Cd. Reese et al., IMPACT OF PRESSURE INFUSION OF SH-2 SWEET CORN SEED WITH PSEUDOMONAS-AUREOFACIENS ON SEEDLING EMERGENCE, HortScience, 33(1), 1998, pp. 24-27
Pressure infusion, a new method using increased atmospheric pressure t
o inoculate seed with the biocontrol agent (BCA) Pseudomonas aureofaci
ens,was evaluated for control of Pythium in shrunken-2 (sh(2)) sweet c
orn seed. Pressure infusion increased seed hydration rates, especially
in damaged areas. Shrunken-2 sweet corn (Zea mays L.) seed often cont
ains incomplete pericarp layers and internal open spaces both within t
he seed and between the aleurone layer and the pericarp. We hypothesiz
ed that pressure infusion may increase the effectiveness of the BCA in
oculation through delivery of bacteria to areas deep within the seed.
However, pressure infusion reduced final emergence in both growth cham
ber and field experiments. Rapid hydration of the pressure-infused see
d may have caused tissue damage. Bio-priming of pressure-infused seed
increased final emergence. The BCA reduced Pythium infection of sh(2)
sweet corn seed 48 h after planting. Pressure infusion of seed did not
significantly affect the incidence of Pythium infection when compared
to other treatments using the BCA.