An Antifungal Substance in the Corn Plant and its Effect on Growth of Two Stalk-rotting Fungi

Abstract

IN a recent paper on root and stalk rot of field corn in south-western Ontario¹, we reported that stalk-rotting fungi do not invade the stalks of young corn plants. Subsequent experiments have been designed to investigate whether or not young corn stalks contain substances which will inhibit the growth of these fungi. Loomis et al. ² found resistance factors in corn which were effective against the European corn borer, Pyrausta nubilalis (Hubn.), as well as Penicillium chrysogenum and other organisms. Virtanen et al. ³ isolated antifungal factors from wheat, maize and rye which inhibited Fusarium sp., Penicilliumsp. and a wide range of other micro-organisms. In the present communication results are presented which demonstrate that extracts from young corn stalks inhibit growth of two stalk-rotting organisms, Fusarium moniliforme Sheld. and Gibberella zeae (Schw.) Petch.