EFFECT OF OILSEED CAKES ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH TRICHODERMA SPECIES FOR THE CONTROL OF CHARCOAL ROT OF SUNFLOWER (HELIANTHUS ANNUS L.)

Abstract Seed treatment with oil seed cakes like Cotton cake, Mustard cake (Black and yellow) and Taramera cake alone or in combination with Trichoderma harzianum and T. resei significantly reduced colonization of roots by charcoal rot fungus (Macrophomina phaseolina) and significantly increased growth of sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) plants. Highest reduction in charcoal rot of sunflower was observed when seeds of sunflower were coated with cotton cake and T. resei followed by Taramera cake and T. harzianum and Mustard cake in combination with T. harzianum

Location of fungi in groundnut seed

Abstract Using ISTA techniques, component plating of groundnut seed showed that seed coat (testa) was greatly infected by fungi viz., Alternaria citri Ellis & Pierce apud Pierce, Aspergillus flavus Link ex Gray, A. niger van Tieghem, Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht, F. semitectum Berk & Rav., F. solani (Mart) Sacc., Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid., and Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn., followed by cotyledon and axis (radicle and plumule). Reduced number of fungal species in surface sterilized seed indicates that most of the fungi were located on seed coat (testa). Blotter method showed greater incidence of fungi on seed parts followed by agar plate and deep freezing methods. In seedling symptom test, Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium spp., Rhizoctonia solani Aspergillus flavus and A. niger showed pre-emergence and post emergence rot resulting in root rot and damping off of seedling caused by root infecting fungi

SEED BORNE MYCOFLORA OF CASTOR BEAN (RICINUS COMMUNIS L.) FROM PAKISTAN

Abstract Castor bean seeds were analyzed by using ISTA (International seed testing association) for the detection of seed borne mycoflora. Thirty one fungal species belonging to 15 genera were isolated from 12 samples of castor bean seeds collected from different areas of Pakistan. Fusarium solani, Alternaria alternata, Cephaliophora tropica were most predominant fungal species isolated while the saprophytic fungi like A. niger, A. flavus were common in all samples of castor bean seed tested. Blotter method was considered to be better technique which gave maximum number of fungi followed by agar plate and deep freezing methods