Seed-borne Fungi of Some Vegetables in Saudi Arabia and their Chemical Control PDF

Keywords

fungi, seeds, fungicide

Abstract

The present studies were undertake to find out the fungi associated with the seeds of locally cultivated okra, pepper, radish and soybean and their control by fungicidal seed treatment. Seeds were obtained from the local market and farmers in September, 1991. Using the methods suggested by the ISTA, seed-borne fungi were isolated by moist blotter and agar plate methods. A total of 15 species of fungi belonging to the genera, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Botrytis, Cladosporium, Colletotrichum, Curvularia, Epicoccum, Fusarium, Penicillium, And Stemphylium were isolated from the tested seeds. These fungi were reported for the first time from the tested seeds in Saudi Arabia. Five fungicides viz., Bavistin, Benlate, Cozib, Dithane M-45 and Ridomil MZ-58 were used as seed-treatment. The number of fungal species were greatly reduced when the seeds were treated with 0.2 percent of the tested fungicides before placing them on agar plates. Benlate was found to be very efficient as seed fungicide followed by Cozib and Dithane M-45.