Field performance of maize grown from Fusarium verticillioides-inoculated seed.

Fusarium verticillioides is an important fungus occupying dual roles in the maize plant. The fungus functions as an endophyte, a fungal/host interaction beneficial to the growth of some plants. At other times, the fungus may function as a mycotoxin producing pathogen. The advantages and/or disadvantages of the endophytic relationship must be established in order to target appropriate sites for controlling diseases and mycotoxins in maize. One possibility could be to ensure seed maize is fungal free prior to planting. Reciprocal inoculations were made with two fungal isolates on seed of two maize genotypes. Yield was measured at harvest by ear and seed characters and vegetative growth at one-month intervals for plant survival, height, weight and stem diameter. Yield and vegetative growth differed among mature plants only once based on seed inoculation status. In 1998, plant weight was reduced and seed weight per ear was increased for the dent maize, GT-MAS: gk, grown from F. verticillioides RRC 374-inoculated seed compared to other seed treatments. Most vegetative characters were reduced at the first collection for Silver Queen plants grown from F. verticillioides-inoculated seed in 1997 and 1999, but not in 1998. However, no significant differences occurred among mature Silver Queen plants during any of the three growing seasons. In conclusion, yield and vegetative growth of mature maize plants grown from F. verticillioides-inoculated seed were equal to or greater than plants grown from non-inoculated seed under south Georgia field conditions during 1997, 1998, and 1999.