VIEW ARTICLE

Resistance

Comparison of Normal and High-Lysine Maize Inbreds For Resistance to Kernel Rot Caused by Fusarium moniliforme. H. L. Warren, Research Plant Pathologist, Science and Education Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture; and Professor, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907; Phytopathology 68:1331-1335. Accepted for publication 24 March 1978. Copyright © 1978 The American Phytopathological Society, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121. All rights reserved.. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-68-1331.

Quantitative differences in resistance to Fusarium moniliforme occurred in both opaque-2 (o₂) maize inbreds and in their normal counterparts. Fusarium moniliforme/maize-inbred interactions were observed among eight o₂ and normal endosperms. Ear rot caused by F. moniliforme was more severe on susceptible o₂ maize inbreds than on their normal counterparts. However, there was little or no difference in kernel rot between resistant o₂ and normal isogenic lines. The correlation coefficient between susceptibility to F. moniliforme in o₂ and in normal inbreds was 0.62. Susceptibility or resistance in the o₂ endosperm was positively correlated with susceptibility or resistance in the normal endosperm. Five mutants (o₂, o₂ modified, floury-2 (fl₂), and double mutant o₂/fl₂) of inbred W64A were inoculated at different times after pollination. Floury-2 and o₂/fl₂ were most susceptible of F. moniliforme 1 and 7 days past pollination. The other mutants were most susceptible 7 and 14 days past pollination. A method for inoculation of maize ears with F. moniliforme for differentiation of reactions to Fusarium kernel rot is described. A high incidence of infection and clear differential effects were observed when ears were inoculated by spraying the silk 6-18 days past pollination. Inoculations made 23 days or more past pollination resulted in only a small amount of kernel rot.