Studies on infection indexing and distribution profiling of seed-borne fungi of sorghum germplasm in India for safe and healthy long-term conservation

Studies on distribution profiling and infection indexing of seed-borne fungi of sorghum germplasm from seventeen states of India revealed the presence of a total of 43 species belonging to 23 genera of fungi. Based on average infection index, Fusarium verticillioides (26.27 ±20.96), Alternaria alternata (19.30 ±15.05), A. niger (14.40 ±7.42), Fusarium semitectum (15.44 ±10.72%), Aspergillus flavus (18.21 ±10.25), Bipolaris sorghicola (16.68 ±9.51), Curvularia lunata (11.51 ±8.49), Colletotrichum sublineolum (15.81 ±9.26) and Phoma sorghina (14.51 ±12.99) were recorded as dominant species causing grain mold of sorghum in different agro-climatic zones of India and also affecting seed germination significantly. Among dominant species, F. verticillioides, A. alternata and Exserohilum rostratum were recorded with highest average infection index from Karnataka and Aspergillus flavus from Telangana representing Southern Plateau & Hills zone. Whereas, A niger, C. lunata F. semitectum, P. sorghina and C. sublineolum were recorded with highest infection index from Maharashtra representing two agro climatic zones of the country i.e. Western Plateau & Hills and West-coast Plains & Ghats. Keeping in view the importance of sorghum as a probable contingent crop under changing climate scenario, the present findings may play a greater role in long-term conservation, exploration, evaluation and characterization of sorghum germplasm.