Department of P G. Studies and Research in Applied Botany, Kuvempu University, Jnana Sahyadri, Shankaraghatta-577451, Shivamogga, Karnataka, INDIA.
An investigation was made to detect the seed-borne Cercaspara guizoticola and other fungi, location and its transmission in niger seed during kharif 2006 - 07. 132 seed samples of Niger [Guizatia abyssinica (L f). Cass] were collected from eighteen districts of different agro climatic regions of Karnataka kharif during-2006. C. guizoticola were detected by SBM, PDA, WA and 2,4-D methods. The pathogen was found both seed-borne and seed transmitted in Niger. Cercospora guizoticola was detected in all the seed components and the pathogen incidence ranged from 02–40% in different seed samples. Other pathogenic species viz, Alternaria alternata, Curvularia lunata, Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium oxysporum, Altenaria spp, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Verticillium dahliae, Cladosporium claddsporioides and Chaetomium globosum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Cunigamella elegans, Stachybotrys chartarum, Aspergillus niger, A. flaws, A. ochraceus, A. versicolor, A, terreus, A. candidus, Haplosporangium spp., Penicillium citratum, Rhizopus nigricans, R, stolonifer and Mycella sterilliae were recorded in the niger seed. Among all seed health test methods, SBM is superior for detection of seed borne fungi than other. Among the seed component test, seed coat showed highest incidence of pathogens. The present study reveals that the disease transmission was more during kharif- 2OO6 season than 2007.
Niger, Seed health test, Location, Transmission, Cercospora guizoticola.
