Controle alternativo de Fusarium spp. em sementes de milho

Abstract

Maize seeds are susceptible to Fusarium spp., which cause rotting, damping off and corn kernel contamination by mycotoxins. Plants produce antimicrobial compounds that can be extracted and used as an alternative method in the management of diseases. The objective of this work was to obtain an alternative product, through the use of vegetal extracts associated with powders (rock powder, kaolin and ash) for the control of Fusarium spp. associated with maize seeds. For this, were evaluated the fungitoxicity of extracts of fruits of chilli pepper, eucalyptus leaves, black pepper fruits and neem leaves to Fusarium spp.; and the effect of the extracts on the germination of maize seeds. The tested plant extracts are fungitoxic to Fusarium spp. causing total inhibition of the growth of the pathogens from the concentration of 5%. The treatment of the seeds with the extracts (20%) did not cause decrease in germination, and the extract of chilli pepper promoted the germination of the seeds. The black pepper extract (10%) had fungitoxic effect to F. verticillioides (F159 and F311) in maize cv. Sertanejo. The extracts tested (10% and 20%) did not inhibit F. oxysporum (F01) in maize cv. Sertanejo. Black pepper extract + rock powder, solvent + rock powder and solvent + kaolin accelerated the germination of maize cv. Sertanejo. All formulations tested decreased the incidence of F. verticillioides F311 in maize var. Sertanejo. Extract of black pepper + rock powder and black pepper extract had a positive effect on the control of damping off caused by Fusarium spp., and ind in the seedling development. It is concluded that the alternative product formulated with black pepper extract + rock powder and the black pepper extract have potentiality to be used in the alternative control of Fusarium spp. in maize seeds.