Physiological and sanitary quality of maize seeds treated with biological control agents

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological and sanitary quality of maize seeds (Zea mays L.) treated with fungicide and biological control agents. PZ 677 and PZ 242 maize seeds were treated with Thiran + Carbendazin fungicide and biological control agents Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma asperellum. Analyzes consisted of germination test, emergence speed index, seedling emergence and seed sanity test. It was veri­fied that the fungicide, the biological control agents and the two hybrids did not influence maize seed germina­tion (85 to 95%), emergence speed index (5 to 9) and seedling emergence (60 to 86%). Seeds treated with the fungicide Thiram + Carbendazin controlled the Fusarium verticillioides and Penicillium spp. fungi, while seeds treated with Trichoderma asperellum only controlled Penicillium spp.