Quality of corn seeds (Zea mays) treated with fungicide and inoculated with Trichoderma harzianum

Abstract

This work was carried out at the Seed Analyses Laboratory and in the Pathology Laboratory of the Plant Pathology Department of Lavras University (Minas Gerais State, Brazil), aiming to evaluate the effects of the interaction among seeds inoculated with the fungus Trichoderma harzianum, and treated with fungicides on the corn seeds quality. Seeds from DKB747 corn hybrid treated or not with fungicide, with or without inoculum, before and after three months storage were used. The main purpose was to evaluated the seeds physiological quality by the germination test, cold test, emergence seed and sanitary quality tests, adopting the severity level for inoculum and also the mycelial growth level. Results revealed that the physiological quality of inoculated seeds was not affected. In relation to sanitary analyses, Captan® and Maxin® fungicides decrease the mycelial growth and the fungus severity. In the course of storage the fungus severity was decreased.