Poster: Biology & Disease Mgmt: Postharvest Pathology & Mycotoxins
131-P
Seed Quality of Maize Cultivars Infected With Pantoea agglomerans
H. SILVA-ROJAS (1), G. Morales-Valenzuela (1), L. Cordova-Tellez (1), D. Ochoa MartÃnez (1), A. Carballo-Carballo (1) (1) Colegio de Postgraduados, Mexico
Pantoea agglomerans is a important seed borne pathogen of maize. There are reports about transmission rates, however, information concerning the quality seed is weak. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of seed produced in infected plants with Pantoea agglomerans. Dent corn hybrids Triunfo (comercial) and 9Bx52 (experimental) were sown in Experimental Station of Colegio de Postgraduados, Montecillo, Mexico. Disease assessments were made once a week during crops cycle. Seeds were harvested and separed acording severity of mother plant (healthy, non-systemic and systemic). Seed quality was evaluated with standard test germination in laboratory and vigour in greenhouse. Disease incidences of sistemic infection were 3.6% for Triunfo and 2.8% for 9Bx52. The results show that 1000-seed weight was lower in systemically infected plants. All variables in laboratory and greenhouse were significantly lower in seed plants with systemic infection. These results indicate that the severity of infection from the mother plant affects the quality of the seed.