The Adaptive Response of Maize Crops to the Interaction of
Biotic and Abiotic Factors under Climatic Conditions of 2025

Horia Lucian Iordan, Daniela Horhocea, Emil Georgescu, 
Lidia Cană, Cătălin Lazăr

National Agricultural Research and Development Institute Fundulea

Keywords: maize yield, adaptability, abiotic stress, biotic stress, Fusarium spp., maize ear rot, Ostrinia nubilalis, pathogen-pest interaction, agricultural sustainability, climate change, tolerant hybrids.

Abstract: The variability of climatic conditions observed in recent years has exerted a significant influence on the adaptability of maize crops, leading to alterations in physiological processes, productivity, and tolerance to both biotic and abiotic stress factors. Abiotic elements such as temperature, humidity, and the spatial-temporal distribution of precipitation directly affect plant growth processes and its ability to respond to pressures imposed by pathogens and pests. Within this context, the interaction between maize ear rot, caused by species belonging to the Fusarium spp. complex, and the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) represents a major threat to yield stability and grain quality. The galleries formed by larvae within the ears and stalks serve as entry points for fungal pathogens, thereby facilitating colonization and the systemic spread of infection throughout plant tissues. The study was carried out at the experimental fields of the National Agricultural Research and Development Institute (NARDI) Fundulea, located in Călărași County, Fundulea locality (approximate geographic coordinates: 44°27′ N, 26°31′ E). The project aims to strengthen the role of agricultural research in ensuring food security and in improving crop adaptability to climate change through modern genetic and technological approaches. In this regard, during the 2025 growing season, nine domestic and promising maize hybrids, together with one foreign control hybrid, were evaluated under local pedoclimatic conditions in order to comparatively assess their agronomic performance. To test tolerance to biotic stress, the plants were subjected to controlled artificial infestation with Fusarium spp. inoculum and Ostrinia nubilalis larvae. This approach enabled the evaluation of hybrid responses under conditions of elevated pathogen and entomological pressure, reflecting the complex interaction between genotype, environment, and biotic stressors. The results provide valuable insights into the adaptive mechanisms of maize hybrids exposed to multiple stress factors and contribute to the development of integrated breeding and crop protection strategies aimed at enhancing maize resilience and ensuring sustainable production under changing climatic conditions.