Applied Sciences Session:

Title:             Seed borne storage fungi of Cowpea: pathogenic to the seedlings
Authors:        Puspaa Sinha, Amit Kumar Prakash
Abstract:      The radicle of approximately 80% of the seedlings raised from the cowpea seeds stored with A.niger, A.flavus and A.alternata at 80% RH, were shorter, curved with blackened tip. Less per cent of the seedlings were affected when the seeds were stored at 70% RH and none when stored at 60% RH, and were comparable to the control. The cotyledons of seeds stored at 80% RH were afflicted with black/blackish brown necrotic lesions due to all the storage fungi except A.alternata. 100% of the seedlings were shorter due to storage of the seeds with fungi at 80% RH, and the first leaf of 6 to 11% of seedlings expressed twisting. Damping off was caused by F.moniliforme. Other than this fungus caused drying of apical bud in 4 to 9% of the seedlings. Total chlorophyll, total soluble sugar and total free amino acid were less in the seedlings stored with the noted fungi at 80% RH. A.alternata proved to be the most deleterious.

Keywords:    Cowpea seed, Storage fungi, Seedlings, Pathological symptoms.
Pages:          607-611

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