Twee kiemschimmels van mais

Summary

Maize grains, not disinfected, were sown in soil of high moisture content in which a previous crop of maize had been grown. Following cold-treatment for a period of 8 days at 10°C and 2 days at 19°C, the boxes were placed at 28°C. Germination and emergence were low. APythium of thedebaryanum-type and aFusarium related or identical withculmorum were isolated from a number of the rotted grains.

The following conclusions were drawn from experiments with disinfected and untreated grain sown in steamed soil and in soil infested with the above-mentioned fungi:

• 1. Pythium sometimes killed the untreated grains before entering them, as was shown by microscopic examination.

• 2. The percentage germination of seed disinfected with Arasan was approximately normal, though the roots became attacked on their way through the soil.

• 3. Fusarium attack on untreated grain was more severe than the attack by Pythium. Though alle grains that were disinfected germinated well in contaminated soil, the roots were already slightly attacked by the fungus as soon as they left the pericarp.

• 4. Arrested growth of seedlings from treated grain sown in the field must be attributed mainly to damage of the roots by Pythium spp. during periods of low temperature and high moisture.