Assessment of Seedborne Fungal Infection in Conserved Seed Samples of Jute (Corchorus Sp.) and Mesta (Hibiscus Sp.) Germplasm Tripathi A.N.1,*, Sarkar S. K.1, Agarwal P.C.2 1Division of Crop Protection, Central Research Institute for Jute & Allied Fibres, Barrackpore, Kolkata- 700120 2Plant Quarantine Division, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi-110012 *Corresponding author: A.N. Tripathi; antripathi_patho@rediffmail.com
Online published on 2 May, 2015. Abstract A total of 60 seed samples of jute and mesta comprising 15 each of Corchours olitorius, C. capsularis, Hibiscus cannabinus and H. sabdariffa germplasm obtained from National Gene Bank, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi (India) were subjected to seed health testing for qualitative and quantitative estimates of seed borne fungi. These seed samples were tested for detection of seed borne pathogen by blotter method and pure cultures of seed borne pathogens were maintained on potato dextrose agar for further studies. The incubated seeds were examined on the 8th day of incubation under stereo-binocular microscope for detection of the spectrum of seed borne fungi; slides were also examined under a compound microscope as and when required. The seed germination in jute varied from 0% to 75% while in case of mesta it was 15% to 100%. A total of nine; seven pathogenic and two saprophytic fungi were recorded on seeds tested viz. Alternaria alternata (infection 10%), Bipolaris oryzae (3%), Curvularia lunata (3%), Macrophomina phaseolina (3%) Phoma exigua (33%) on jute, Fusarium moniliforme (15%) and Sclerotium rolfsii (3%) on mesta. Aspergilli (21% and 33%) on jute and mesta, respectively and Penicillium notatum (3% on mesta) were the saprophytic fungi detected. Top Keywords Seedborne fungi, Jute, Mesta, Germplasm. Top |