Efficacy of Bioagents and Botanicals on Seed Health Parameters in Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

The seeds of Safflower (Cv. Bhima) was treated with bioagents and botanicals i.e. talc powder formulations of Pseudomonas fluorescens (0.6%), Trichoderma viride (0.6%), Pseudomonas fluorescens + Trichoderma viride (0.6%) each, Garlic extract (1%), Ginger extract (1%) and Thiram + Carbendazim (0.2% each) as a recommended fungicidal check. The results indicated that, among the bioagents, the treatment of Pseudomonas fluorescens + Trichoderma viride (0.6%) each to the seeds of safflower was found effective in reducing seed mycoflora i.e. Alternaria carthami, Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger by 61.8, 65.7, 51.8 and 88.7 per cent, respectively over untreated control. The seed germination, seedling vigour index and field emergence of safflower was increased by 10.76, 21.80 and 7.91per cent, respectively with this treatment over untreated control. The mean seed germination, seedling vigour index and field emergence in untreated control was 74.33 per cent, 1470.21 and 66.33 per cent, respectively.