Most of the pathogens responsible for the main diseases of maize (Zea mays L.) are
transmitted by seeds, with consequences such as seed rot and seedling tipping, germination
and vigor reduction, thus reducing the quality of maize seeds. The objective of this work was
to evaluate the pathogenicity, transmission and incidence of Fusarium verticilliodes in corn
seeds from spikes inoculated with different methods. In the present work, Fusarium
verticillioides detection tests were performed to confirm the presence of the pathogen in
maize plants inoculated in spray, injectable and natural forms. The percentage of emergence,
physiological and sanitary quality of maize seeds produced with different degrees of infection
by F. verticillioides was evaluated, being related to productivity. The PCR technique used
was able to detect up to 1% of infection. It was observed that the inoculations on the spikes of
the spray plants resulted in a higher incidence of the pathogen in the seeds when compared to
the other treatments. The ten inoculated hybrids showed incidence of F. verticillioides in the
seeds that were submitted to all forms of inoculation. To verify the transmissibility of the seed
pathogen to the plants, after extractions of leaf and stem tissues, DNA extraction analyzes
with specific primer of F. verticillioides were made. Seedling emergence showed a percentage
higher than 90% in all hybrids studied.
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