EFFECTS OF ENDOPHYTIC INFECTION BY FUSARIUM-MONILIFORME ON CORN GROWTH AND CELLULAR MORPHOLOGY

Kernels of corn, Zea mays, were inoculated with Fusarium moniliforme t o analyze seedling growth and development during endophytic, symptomle ss infection. In planta F: moniliforme distribution and seedling growt h, expressed as shoot diameter, plant height, leaf length, and dry wei ght, were examined weekly for 28 days after planting. Even though no v isible disease symptoms developed, F: moniliforme was isolated from mo st segments taken from seedlings grown from inoculated, but not nonino culated, kernels from the earliest to the latest sampling. F: monilifo rme did not alter the rate or percentage of kernel germination, but se edlings grown from inoculated kernels had suppressed shoot diameter, p lant height, leaf length, and plant weight 7 days after planting. Howe ver, seedling growth from inoculated kernels was similar to or greater than that from noninoculated kernels at 28 days. Histological modific ations in seedlings grown from inoculated kernels included accelerated lignin deposition in shoots and modified chloroplast orientation in l eaves. In summary, gross morphology and histology were altered in corn seedlings during symptomless, endophytic infection by F: moniliforme.