National Seed Health System

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ARCHIVED    Cf 8.1 – Fusarium moniliforme – maize

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PATHOGEN: Fusarium moniliforme (sex: Gibberella fujikuroi; Fusarium subglutinans)
HOST: Maize (Zea mays)
COMMON NAME: Fusarium kernel, root and stalk rot; seed rot; seedling blight
METHOD:  Cf 8.1 Culture Plate (McGee, 1994)
METHOD CLASS: TEMPORARY STANDARD (B)
SAMPLE:  400 seeds

PROCEDURE:

    1. Randomly select 400 seeds; 4 replicates of 100.
    2. Wash thoroughly in running water to remove chemical seed treatment.
    3. Immerse seeds in 1.0% (v/v) solution of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) for 1 minute; then triple rinse with sterile water.
    4. Aseptically place seeds on acid PDA (potato dextrose agar), usually 5 to 10 seeds per petri plate (9 cm diameter plates).
    5. Incubate samples at 25°C with 8 hours of light per day for 7 to 21 days. Check periodically to determine stage of colony growth.
    6. Suspect mycelium should be examined for the presence of micro- or macrocondia of Fusarium moniliforme.

REFERENCES:

McGee, D. C. 1994. Seed assays for Stewart’s wilt and other seed-borne diseases of corn. Pages 161 – 168 in: Proc. Annu. Corn Sorghum Res. Conf. 48. American Seed Trade Association, Washington D. C.