Effect of Predominant Mycoflora (A. alternata and M. phaseolina) on Seed Quality Parameters of Sesamum

Sesamum is an important oilseed crop affected by toxigenic fungal pathogens viz., Alternaria, Macrophomina, Fusarium and Aspergillus spp. Among these, A. alternata and M. phaseolina are seed borne pathogens causing yield loss to an extent of 20 to 40 per cent. The effect of A. alternata and M. phaseolina on seed quality parameters of susceptible cv. Swetha was investigated during 2022-2023. The A. alternata and M. phaseolina inoculated and uninoculated seeds of both test pathogens were tested for germination and seedling growth by rolled paper method and pot culture studies. Significant differences in seed germination, seedling length, seedling dry mass, seedling vigour index (SVI) - I and II and seed moisture content were observed in susceptible cv. Swetha. The results indicated that A. alternata recorded lower seed germination percentage (60.50%), seedling length (6.56 cm), dry mass (9.12 mg) and SVI-I and II (656 and 552 respectively) over untreated seeds recording high germination (82.25%), seedling length (14.84 cm), dry mass (13.17 mg) and SVI-I and II (1221 and 1116 respectively). Similar results were observed in M. phaseolina treated seeds where the pathogen treated seeds recorded lower seed germination percentage (70.75%), seedling length (9.42 cm), dry mass (8.71 mg) and SVI-I and II (667 and 599 respectively) than pathogen untreated seeds recording high seed germination (82.50%), seedling length (14.25 cm), dry mass (13.30 mg) and SVI-I and II (1175 and 1097 respectively).