Seed-borne Pathogens Intercepted in Germplasm Introduced in India During 2005–06

Quarantine processing of 1,48,917 samples of seeds and other planting material of various agri-horticultural crops imported during 2005–2006 resulted in the interception of 34 fungi and one bacterium. These interceptions included pathogens of quarantine significance, viz., Peronospora manshurica, a fungus not known to occur in India; Tilletia foetida and Botrytis cinerea with a limited geographical distribution in the country; Drechslera maydis and Phoma lingam which are known to possess physiological races; Colletotrichum dematillm, Drechslera sorokiniana, Fusarium moniliforme. F. solani and Macrophomina phaseolina with wide host range and other pathogens reported to cause significant economic losses e.g. Alternaria brassicicola, A. sesame, A. padwickii, A. radicina, Verticillium alboatrum and Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris. etc. Economic significance of pathogens intercepted is discussed and the need to conduct a thorough and critical seed health testing during quarantine processing for safer introduction of planting material is emphasized.