INCIDENCE OF SEED-BORNE FUNGI ON SESAME (SESAMUMINDICUM L.) AND THEIR EFFECT ON GERMINATION

Abstract

Investigations were conducted in the teaching and research laboratory of Department of Crop protection, Bayero University, Kano, to detect seed borne fungi and their effect on the germination of some Sesame cultivars. Standard blotter method of seed health testing was used to detect fungi from the seeds of five sesame cultivars namely E8, Ex-Sudan, Yendev-55, Ex-Katsina and Ex-Bauchi; these fungi were sub cultured in potato dextrose agar amended with streptomycin for further growth and sporulation. The effect of associated fungi on germination was evaluated using rolled paper towel method. Fungi associated with the seeds were Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus sp. Fungal incidence varied among the cultivars and ranged from 0.00-26.00 % with E8 (0.00-4.00%), Ex-Sudan (5.00-25.50%), Yendev-55(3.00-4.50%), Ex-Katsina (16.50-25.00%) and Ex-Bauchi (8.50-26.00%). The incidence of Aspergillus niger was higher on surface sterilised seeds while, Rhizopus sp. was more prevalent on unsterilized seeds. The germination percentage varied among cultivars, from 84.50-95.12% with E8 recording the highest.