DETECTION OF WHEAT SEED MYCOFLORA WITH SPECIAL REFERANCE TO DRECHSLERA SOROKINIANA

Abstract

Wheat seed samples collected from different locations of three districts viz Sialkot, Narrowal and Gujranwala, were analyzed in the Seed Pathology laboratory to study the associated mycoflora by using the Standard blotter method (SBM). A total of 14 genera and 22 species of fungi were isolated, among which Drechslera sorokiniana was recovered with maximum mean frequency (18.1%),other pathogenic fungi include D. tetramera (15.66), D. teres (12.5), Alternaria  alternata  (9.75), A. tritici (4.33), A. triticola (6.41), Fusarium semitectum (10.58),  Cercospora spp. (2.75) F. solani (1.08), F. oxysporum (1.66), Stemphylium solani (5.66), S. botryosum (2.55), Cladosporium herbarium (3.41), Phoma spp (6.5) and  Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (3.25). Among five tested fungicides as seed treatment and poisoned food technique, Score® (Difenoconazole) and Topsin-M® (Thiophanate methyl) exhibited the best performance to inhibit the mycelial growth of D. sorokiniana followed by AmistarTop ® (Azoxystrobin + Difenoconazole) while Halonil ® (Chlorothalonil) and Curzate-M ® (Cymoxanil + Mancozeb) were least effective.