PROBLEMS IN WEED CONTROL IN SERBIAN MAIZE SEED PRODUCTION

Weed control in the seed maize production is facing some specific problems. Maize inbred lines are known to be susceptible to many stress factors, including actively growing weeds and some herbicides. The slower growth of maize inbreds, as well as, the open space be- tween rows provide favourable conditions for emergence and growth of weeds during the whole growing season. Herbicide combinations applied in the seed maize pro- duction are the same as those applied in the commercial maize production, but, their efficiency is differently ex- pressed in these crops. Environmental factors significantly affect weeds and maize development, as well as, herbi- cides affect maize inbred lines. The introduction of sul- fonylurea herbicides, controlling grass weeds, has result- ed in susceptibility of a greater number of maize inbred lines. Therefore, it was found that reaction of maize in- bred lines gives a wide variability to sulfonilurea herbi- cides. Considering specificity of maize inbred lines, this study presents some problems in weed control in maize seed production.