Effects of Stenocarpella maydis in seeds and in the initial development of corn

The association of the fungus Stenocarpella maydis with corn seed may cause a reduction of seed germination and vigor of the emerged seedlings. This work was carried out in order to evaluate the effects of S. maydis on corn seed quality as well as on its early development. To evaluate such effects, seeds of cultivars RB9308YG (C1) and RB9108 (C2) were inoculated by the osmotic conditioner technique with two S. maydis isolates for 24(P1), 48(P2), 72(P3) and 96 hours (P4). Plants were grown in a room chamber at 20 degrees C and 25 degrees C and daily assessed until 28 days after emergence. Seed germination, incidence of S maydis, electrical conductivity, speed of emergence index (SEI), initial and final seedling population and dry weight of emerged plants, were assessed. The longer the exposition times of the seeds to the fungal colony, the more severe negative effects of the pathogens on seed vigor were observed. S. maydis caused reduced seed vigor in the speed of seedling emergence in the final stand and early development of corn seedlings.