A SEED BORNE MYCOFLORA ASSOCIATED WITH LOCAL AND IMPORTED PADDY SEED LOTS IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

In the present study, 110 local and 125 imported rice (Oryzae sativa L.) seed samples comprising of 28 different varieties were analyzed for seed health using standard blotter paper method. Eighteen fungal species belonging to 8 fungal genera viz., Alternaria, Bipolaris. Curvularia, Fusarium, Nigrospora, Pyricularia, Phoma and Tellitia were found associated with local and imported paddy seed lots. Local paddy seed lots were found more infected with seed-borne fungi as compared to imported paddy seed lots. On local paddy seed lots, Curvularia lunata (10.2%) was most observed as predominant fungal species followed by Fusarium moniliforme (6.5%).  On the other hand, in imported paddy seed lots Tellitia barclyana was found maximum in infection percentage (90%) followed by Fusarium moniliforme (7.6%).