PREVALENCE OF SEED BORNE FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH SEEDS OF SOME SELECTED FLOWERS

Abstract

The prevalence of fungi associated with seeds of some selected local flowers namely cosmos, marigold, calendula and periwinkle collected from three different location (Arboriculture garden, Ramna park garden and Horticulture garden) of Dhaka district and four hybrid flower seeds (african marigold, cockscomb, petunia and portulaca) collected from Momin Beej Ghar, Dhaka district were recorded. The results showed that the highest percent germination (91.38%) of cosmos obtained from Horticulture garden's seed. marigold (95.25%) obtained from Arboriculture garden's seed and calendula (65.88%) & periwinkle (79.38%) obtained from Ramna park garden's seeds. But incase of hybrid seeds, african marigold showed the highest percent seed germination (98.25%). The Horticulture garden's seed was better than the others considering incidence of fungi in all local flower seed tested. But periwinkle was the lowest affected seed (12.58%, 12.20%, 8.07% incidence) and marigold was the highest affected seed (40.31%,35.33%,31.33% incidence) collected from Arboriculture garden, Ramna park and Horticulture garden, respectively. But incase of hybrid flower seeds, the lowest fungal infection (3.14%) was recorded in portulaca and petunia seeds where the highest (6.20%) was in african marigold seeds.