Four inbred lines of corn were seeded in sand infested with Fusarium moniliforme and placed under fluorescent light banks.  Stand counts showed that SC270P was the most resistant line, GEC119A was intermediate, and SC155 and GA172 were most susceptible.  Crosses were made among these four inbred lines to comprise a diallel series.  The six diallel crosses, plus their reciprocals, were planted in flats of sand infested with F. moniliforme.  Diallel analysis of emergence and stand counts from these tests showed that the general combining ability and maternal variances were highly significant.  Specific combining ability and reciprocal variances were not significant.  Therefore, additive gene action and maternal effects are more important than dominant gene action in the inheritance of resistance to seedling blight caused by F. moniliforme.  This female control could be caused by maternal tissue of the seed or cytoplasmic factors in the embryo.

Additional key words: infested sand, single-cross hybrid.