PJB-2015-96
SEED-BORNE MYCOFLORA ASSOCIATED WITH OKRA [ABELMOSCHUS ESCULENTUS (L.) MOENCH]
SUMMIAYA RAHIM* AND SHAHNAZ DAWAR
Abstract
Around 75 species belonging to 31 fungal genera were isolated from the eighteen seed samples collected from thirteen localities of Pakistan. Seed-borne mycoflora associated with the samples were isolated and identified by using ISTA techniques. Agar plate method was found best for the isolation of fungi followed by standard blotter method. Seed samples from the areas of Fatu-chuk, Islamabad, Akora Khattak, Mandibahauddin, and Karachi, respectively were found to be highly infected with fungi. Species of Aspergillus and Chaetomium were the most dominant fungi. Species of Fusarium, Phoma, and Macrophomina phaseolina were isolated through both agar plate and standard blotter methods. Variation in size of sclerotia of M. phaseolina was observed. Surface sterilization of seeds with 1% Ca(OCl)2 has reduced the incidence of storage fungi. 32 species belonging to 21 fungal genera are newly reported from Pakistan.
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