TESHALE TAFESSE LINTAMO2026-02-252023https://etd.hu.edu.et/handle/123456789/1093Maize (Zea mays) is attacked by many diseases in the field as well as in the storage. Fungi are among the principal causes of deterioration and yield loss on farmers’ maize. The present study was aimed to identify the effect of different crop combinations in the intercropping systems and maize varieties on fungal contamination of maize grain. The experiment was conducted at dorebafana woreda of Sidama region at rukesa suke kebele and the laboratory analysis was conducted at Hawassa University, College of Agriculture, Plant Protection Laboratory. Three maize varieties (Limu, Kurtu and BH 540) and four cropping systems (Maize sole, Maize with haricot bean intercropping, Maize with mung bean intercropping, maize with sweet potato intercropping) were the treatments. The experiment was laid using completely randomized block design (RCBD) with three replications. For each treatment a sample of 100 seeds were tested for fungal contamination using the blotter technique in the laboratory. A total of six fungal genera consisting of nine species of fungi were isolated from maize grains collected from the experimental field. Fusarium sppwere the most frequently isolated ones followed by Aspergillus spp. The fungal contaminations of maize grains were significantly different (p<0.05) between sol cropping and intercropping treatments. The sol cropping had higher fungal contamination level compared to intercropping treatments. On the other hand, i ntercropping maize with haricot bean has resulted in the lowest fungal contamination followed by intercropping maize with mung bean. Fusarium spp had resulted highest contamination level followed by Aspergillus spp, Penicillium spp, Alternaria spp, Trichoderma spp, and Rhizopus sp. Low level of fungal frequency was recorded on limu maize variety. Whereas the variety kurtu had the highest level of fungal contamination. The result of the present study revealed that maize cropping system affects the level of fungal contamination. In the present study it is also seen that maize varieties tested vary in their resistance to fungal contamination. Thus, good agronomic practices like intercropping and variety selection can play determinant role in reduction of fungal contamination in maize grain. Based on the finding of present study, intercropping maize with haricot bean and variety limu can be used to reduce effect of maize contamination with fungi.en-USIntercroppingfungimaizevarietyThesis