Effect of Fusarium moniliforme on the quality of maize seeds.

Abstract

The present work had as objective to evaluate the sanitary quality of maize hybrid Zeneca Co 32 seeds in relation to Fusarium moniliforme. It was also evaluated the influence of this fungi on the physiologic quality of the seeds, through the determination of water content before and after the accelerated aging test, the germination test and the vigor tests: accelerated aging, cold and bulk conductivity. It was observed high incidence of F. moniliforme in seeds with and without surface sterilization with sodium hipoclorite % for three minutes (98 and 4%, respectively). In relation to germination, it was verified that the pathogen did not affect the germination capacity of the seeds. Different fungicides were tested for the seed treatment, and it was observed a better result in seeds treated with benomyl. Fusarium moniliforme has its ability affected during the storage of maize seeds, with tendency to decrease its incidence in seeds after 2 months of storage. Additional keywords: seed pathology; germination; storage; fungicide.