Studies on Seed Borne Fungi in Rice Cultivars Grown in Konkan Region of Maharashtra and their Effect on Seed Germination

Seeds from ten rice cultivars grown in Konkan region of Maharashtra were examinedto identify seed-borne fungi and their effect on germination. The observed fungi were Fusarium moniliforme, Fusarium semitectum, Fusarium fusarioides, Curvularia lunata, Curvularia pallescens, Ustilaginoidea virens, Aspergillus niger, Rhizopous stolonifer and Trichoderma harzianum. Among the fungi detected, Ustilaginoidea virens and Fusarium moniliforme were most predominant. Seed germination is decreased with increased the seed infection regardless of the rice cultivars tested.