Artificial inoculation with F. monliforme was successful in in-
creasing number of moldy kernels and incidence of seedborne F.
moniliforme compared to the check (natural inoculation) (Table
4). Visual infection can perhaps be increased by increasing the
number of inoculations, thus making this technique even more
useful for selection purposes. The fungicide Benomyl was not ef-
fective in reducing visual nor seedborne F. moniliforme com-
pared to the check, nor did it significantly increase grain yield
(Table 4).
 Table 5 shows that F. moniliforme was the most important
seedborne fungus both in Isabela and Lajas. Incidence of most
seedborne fungi was greater in Lajas. Conditions in Isabela were
very dry in the 1983 growing season.
 Significant subplot treatment by location interactions were
found for moldy kernels, earworm damage, ear diameter, and


grain yield (Table 6). Earworm damage was virtually nonexistent
for all subplot treatments in Isabela, while there were significant
differences among treatments at Lajas. In the combined analysis
(Table 4) no differences among subtreatments were found. The
artificial inoculation technique was much more effective in
Isabela even though only one application was used, thus causing
a significant interaction. Grain yields were not different among
treatments at Lajas but varied sharply in Isabela. The reason for
this interaction of treatment and location is not understood.
 Based on the results of these trials two modified o2 varieties,
Amarillo Cristalino QPM and Tuxpefio-1 QPM, have been
chosen to undergo S1 family recurrent selection. Grain yield, ear-
ly maturity and plant height will be used in an independent cull-
ing levels selection scheme. Poorly modified families will be
eliminated.


Table 4: Means of subplot treatments averaged over seven corn varieties planted at two locations in
 March (Lajas) and May (Isabela), 1983.


 Trait

No. of moldy kernels

Earworm (% of ear
damaged)

Ear length (cm)

Ear diameter (cm)

Grain yield (kg ha

Fusarium moniliforme
 (number of colonies
 per 50 seed)


 Check
 (without fungicide)
without inoculation)

 5.0


 3.0


13.3


5.0


3487



35.7


 Benomyl treated
(without inoculation)

 4.4


 4.4


13.4

4.3

3533



35.4


 Inoculated
(without Benomyl)

 8.8


 2.1


N/A

N/A

N/A



51.1


x

6.1


3.2


13.3


LSD

2.04


1.06


.35 (n.s.)


4.6 0.65

3510 272.9 (n.s.)


40.7


6.01


 Only traits exhibiting significant differences among treatments are included, except for grain
 yield.

 LSD = Least significant difference at = 0.05.

 N/A = Treatment not included.







Table 5: Location means for seedborne fungi and percent germination averaged
 over all varieties.


 Lajas Isabela X LSD
 Fusarium moniliforme 58.6 22.8 40.7 5.27
 Penicillium spp.
 (green type) 22.5 18.8 20.6 7.6 (n.s.)
 Penicillium spp.
 (yellow type) 8.8 6.0 7.4 3.06 (n.s.)
 Aspergillus spp. 11.1 6.4 8.8 2.94
 Trichoderma spp. 7.6 3.0 5.3 5.6 (n.s.)
 Botryodiplodia
 theobromae 0.9 2.0 1.4 0.79
 Total 123.4 97.5 110.4 33.4 (n.s.)
 % Germination2 68.2 93.9 81.1 4.5

 1Table includes only those fungi found at both locations. Means are
 average number of colonies per 50 seeds, over three subtreatments.
 2Percent germination in laboratory.
 LSD = Least significant difference at Q = 0.05.
 n.s. = No significant differences among locations.



VOL. XX-PROCEEDINGS of the CARIBBEAN FOOD CROPS SOCIETY


Table 6: Location means for traits showing significant subplot treatment by
 location interaction.


 No. of Ear Grain
 Earworm moldy diameter yield
 Treatment Location Damage (%) kernels (cm) (kg ha-1)


 'Check Lajas 5.7 3.5 4.2 3147
 Isabela 0.1 6.9 4.4 272?
 Benomyl Lajas 9.1 2.8 4.2 3097
 Isabela 0.1 6.0 5.1 3971
 Inoculation Lajas 4.0 4.6 4.2 N/A
 Isabela 0.1 12.6 5.8 N/A



 N/A = Not applicable


79