Histopathology of Burkholderia andropogonis in seeds of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

To study the natural infection of Burkholderia andropogonis, seed samples of chickpea were collected in field surveys during four crop seasons 2010–2014 from various districts of Rajasthan. The seed samples were categorized into asymptomatic, moderately discoloured and heavily discoloured. Two seed samples of the crop naturally infected with the pathogen were selected for histopathological studies using microtome sectioning. In moderately discoloured seeds the cells of the pathogen were found in the spermoderm, space between spermoderm and cotyledons in radicle and in cotyledons. In heavily discoloured seeds the aggregations of bacterial cells were found into space between seed coat and spermoderm, radicle and hilum region. In present investigation the bacteria seem to have penetrated seeds of chickpea through micropylar region. Necrosis depletion of cell contents in cotyledons was also found in heavily discoloured seeds.