DETECTION OF SEED BORNE FUNGI OF SOME SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS

Abstract

Occurrence of fungi in seeds of ten selected medi c i na l pl ant s v i z. Andr ogr aphi s , Angl e’ s t r umpet , As par agus , But t er f l y pea, Changeabl e r os e, Devi l ’ s cot t on, I ndi go, J at r opha, Li cor i ce and Ma r gos a t r ee wer e det ect ed. Inspection of dry seeds revealed that the seed samples contained apparently healthy se eds, discolored seeds and shriveled and malformed seeds. The germination percentage was recorded higher in Changeable rose (88.50%) and lower in Margosa tree (41.00%) in blotter method. Germination percentage was recorded higher in blotter method than pot soil test. Fungi were detected by blotter method both with and without pre -treatment of seeds. Hgcl (0.01%) solution was used for pre-treatment. Seven fungal species viz. Alternaria tenuis, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium sp and Rhizopus stolonifer were recorded from without pre-treated seeds while only three species of fungi viz. Alternaria tenuis, Curvularia lunata and Fusarium oxysporum, were recorded from pretreated seeds. All these fungi are new records for seeds of medicinal plants in Bangladesh. 2