Effect of endosperm mutation, silk condition and moisture content on Fusarium verticillioides infection in sweet corn

Abstract

<italic>Fusarium verticillioides</italic> J. Sheldon infects a wide range of crops throughout the world. It has been isolated in corn of all endosperm types. Due to the cosmopolitan nature of <italic>F. verticillioides</italic> and its ability to survive in seed and debris, crop rotation and chemical control generally have been ineffective. Sweet corn inbreds have been identified that exhibit partial resistance to kernel infection by <italic>F. verticillioides</italic> and good emergence. We report preliminary information for future studies on the genetics of resistance in sweet corn to this seed-borne pathogen. Kernel infection by F. verticillioides was influenced by several factors, such as 1) endosperm mutation; 2) silk condition; 3) moisture content of the silks. Wide variation in kernel infection suggested that several genes might be involved for the partial resistance action.