Evaluation of the Development of Maize Plants (Zea mays L.) after Colonization by Endophyte Fungus Fusarium Verticillioides

Abstract

Endophyte fungi inhabit the inside of plants without causing any damage. Benefits from endophyte-plant interactivities include vegetal growth and the plant´s defense against insects and other pathogens. Some endophytes, however, may act as latent pathogens which cause physiological changes and disease symptoms in the host. Current analysis evaluates the development of maize plants colonizer (treatment) and non-colonized (control) with the frequently found endophyte Fusarium verticillioides and compares morphological and physiological alterations possibly caused by the endophyte-host interactivities. Excepting the dry weight of the aerial part, morphological data (number of leaves, total length of the aerial section and root, total dry weight and root weight) were lower in treatment. Analyzed physiological parameters (concentration of chlorophyll a, b and total) showed the same influence pattern of the endophyte since chlorophyll b and total were lower in treatment, whereas the concentration of chlorophyll b was higher. Results show that there was an interference of the endophyte F. verticillioides on the development of maize plants and suggest that decrease of chlorophyll b may be advantageous for plants in stress conditions.