Germination and sugar mobilisation of maize as a function of fusarium contamination

Healthy and Fusarium affected ears were collected in Feszerlak, Somogy County at the end of vegetation cycle of maize (25-30 August). Each patt ern contains 25-25 ears. We compared the samples on the basis of visual image of Fusarium affection. The ears were shelled and two 0,5 kg sa mples were formed: healthy and Fusarium contaminated. After surface sterilisation the unif orm sized seeds were soaked in sterile distilled water for 24 hours and there were germina ted for 7 days. The α-amylase activity was measured with Phadebas- α-amylase test. Seeds were extracted one by one thre e times under reflux using 10 cm 3 boiling water for 15 minutes. During our investigation germ inating activity was detected to measure glucose, f ructose, sucrose content and α-amylase activity. In the first seven days of germination the highest values were d etected in control seeds followed by the affected seeds. Ou r results clearly show that stress conditions appli ed altered not only the saccharide content but decreased their germinating activity as well in the case of maize grain.