Biodiversity of seed mycoflora in storage of Brassica campestris L.

Abstract

Seed is the basic and most critical input for substantial agriculture. A population of 41 fungal pathogens representing 20 genera has been recorded on stored seeds from a composite of 20 seed samples of mustard (Brassica campestris L.) obtained from each geographical areas of Nagpur district understudy comprising of five sub-divisions and 14 talukas. Mycological analysis revealed prevalence of total 41 fungal pathogens fall under 20 genera from survey area SD-I; 39 species representing 20 genera from SD-II; 39 species of 19 genera from SD-III; 35 isolates of 19 genera from SD-IV; and altogether 34 species belonging to 18 genera from SD-V in varying level of incidence. Members of Deuteromycota are most predominant followed by Ascomycota, Zygomycota and Oomycota. Basidiomycota did not persist on seeds. A population of 29 species of 15 genera have been reported from composite seed lots as both external and internal seed borne; 7 isolates of 5 genera as external while 5 species as internal seed borne isolates. Of the total, three-fourth incidence was recorded on blotter paper over agar plating. Ascomycota contributed nearly half of a total incidence followed by Deuteromycota, contributing one-third of total incidence. Zygomycota contributed moderate while Oomycota had least incidence. Among the predominant isolates, Aspergillus dominated with highest count of species followed by Alternaria, Curvularia, Fusarium, Penicillium, Rhizopus and Helminthosporium while remainings were reported with single species. Aspergillus amstelodomi, A. sulphureus, A. versicolor, A. ochracious, Paecilomyces varioti and Cunninghamella elegans were reported for first time on mustard seeds in India.