Survey of seed-borne fungi associated with seeds of rice in Tamil Nadu

Seed health testing to detect seed borne pathogens is an important key step in the management of crop diseases. A total of 30 rice seed samples consisting of 7 cultivars were obtained from different locations of Tamil Nadu, India were used for testing their health status. The pathogens were isolated by using blotter papers and agar plate method. A total of 9 pathogens (Alternaria padwickii, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium moniliforme, Helminthosporium oryzae, Sarocladium oryzae, Pyricularia oryzae, Rhizopus oryzae, Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma species) were identified. Among them the most predominant one was Helminthosporium oryzae which was associated with 62.36 per cent seed samples, followed by Alternaria padwickii (36.63%), Sarocladium oryzae (30.63%), Fusarium moniliforme (28.63%), Curvularia lunata (26.00%). These findings suggest that there is a need for proper storage of rice seed to minimize the fungal infestation and their mycotoxin production.