ABSTRACT
Maize ears with sprouted kernels were collected from Puebla fields. The sprouted kernels associated with Fusarium infections were detached, surface desinfested with sodium hypochloride and placed on Petri dishes with potato-dextrose-agar medium. Since the early 70’s, preharvest sprouting or premature germination of maize has become a serious disease in some regions of the State of Puebla and Tlaxcala in Mexico. Up to 73 % of preharvest sprouted ears has been reported in some corn fields of the State of Puebla, and in such ears from 5–23 % germinated seeds has been found. In USA, genetic factors were usually considered the causal agent. It has also been shown that the fungus Diplodia maydis is able to induce preharvest sprouting. Most of the fungus colonies isolated from internal tissues of sprouted kernels corresponded to the species Fusarium moniliforme, and they were used to inoculate stigmata of maize plants under field conditions, or ears under laboratory conditions.
