Incidence of seedborne mycoflora and their effects on germination of maize seeds - (IJAAR)

Abstract

A laboratory experiment was conducted with maize seed samples collected from four maize growing districts viz. Bogra, Gaibandha, Rangpur and Mymensingh of Bangladesh following blotter method. Nine species of fungi namely Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Alternaria alternata, Bipolaris maydis, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium oxysporum, F. moniliforme, Penicillium oxalicum and Rhizopus stolonifer were identified. Among the species, the incidence of Aspergillus flavus was higher (27.42%) followed by A. niger (23.47%), Fusarium oxysporum (20.55%), Penicillium oxalicum (18.37%), Rhizopus stolonifer (17.83%), F. moniliforme (17.39%), Curvularia lunata (7.87%), Bipolaris maydis (3.50%) and Alternaria alternata (2.74%). The association of the pathogens with maize seeds were observed as deterioration of seed quality and lowered down the germination rate (maximum 78.74% and minimum 67.97%).