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DETECTION OF
SEED BORNE MYCOFLORA IN MAIZE (ZEA
MAYS L.)
ISHRAT NIAZ AND
SHAHNAZ DAWAR
Abstract: Seed borne mycoflora of maize was tested
by using blotter, agar plate and deep freezing methods as recommended by
ISTA. Of the 100 samples collected from different places of Pakistan, a
total number of 56 species belonging to 23 genera of fungi were isolated
and identified. About 70% of the samples were infested with
Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, A. wentii and
Penicillium spp. Of the three methods used, agar plate method
yielded the highest number of fungi as compared to blotter and deep
freezing methods. Deep freezing method was the best for the detection of
Drechslera spp., Fusarium spp., and Penicillium
spp., while agar plate method was suitable for the detection of
Aspergillus spp., Cladosporium spp., Curvularia
spp., and Rhizopus spp. Out of 56 species, 22 species viz.,
Arthrinium phaeospermum, Aspergillus foetidus, A.
tubingensis, Curvularia clavata, C. intermedia,
C. pallescens, Bipolaris maydis, Drechslera
carbonum, Diplodia zea, Fusarium crockwellense, F.
cladosporium, F. culmorum, F. graminearum, F. nivale,
F. proliferatum, Penicillium citrinum, P. funiculosum,
Phoma herbarum, Rhizopus oligosporum, Rhizoctonia
solani, Syncephalastrum racemosum and Trichoderma
harzianum are new reports from Pakistan on maize seeds. However, the
same fungal species have been reported on maize seed from various
countries of the world such as USA, Thailand, India, Canada, Australia,
France, Nepal, United Kindgdom, Western Romania and Hungary.
Department of Botany,
University
of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.
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