Abstract :
The study aimed to isolate and identify seed-borne fungi associated with five stored grain cultivars of rice. The seeds samples of five rice varieties, GR-4, GNR-3, GNR-4, Gurjari and NAUR-1 were procured from Main Rice Research station, Navsari Agriculture University. The five seed samples was stored in cloth bag. The blotter paper and agar plate methods were used to identification of seed borne fungi.The fourfungal genera, Aspergillus, Curvularia,Cheatomiumand Fusarium was found to be prominently associated with different seeds of rice cultivars after 8 months of storage. The numbers of fungi were found to be increased during the storage period. The association of 10 fungus species viz., Aspergillus candidus Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus niger,Aspergillus sp., Cheatomiumsp., Curvularialunata, Curvularia sp., Fusarium moniliforme and Fusarium sp. were found. Among them, the most predominant was Curvularialunata (19.46%). The lowest (17.07%) of association of fungi was observed in cultivar GNR-3.
Keyword :
Rice, Seed borne fungi, Seed germination, Seedling vigour, Seed moisture, Seed weight