Exploration of Contamination Level of Aspergillus spp on sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. (Moench)) Seeds in Khartoum North and Omdurman Grains Central markets

Abstract

This study was conducted under plant pathology laboratory conditions of Plant Protection Department, College of Agricultural Studies, Sudan University of Science and Technology to investigate the level of contamination of sorghum seeds collected from two different locations, in Khartoum state, Khartoum North (KN) and Omdurman (OM) central grains markets) with Aspergillus spp. fungi. The study revealed that the Aspergillus spp. fungi were recorded in all samples collected from the two locations with varying level of contamination. The mean percentage frequency of occurrence of Aspergillus spp. in seeds samples ranged from 10% in Khartoum North to 9% in Omdurman. The highest level of fungus contamination was recorded in samples collected from Omdurman. The most prevailing seed borne fungi recorded across seeds samples was Aspergillus niger. The study showed that the mean percentage frequency of occurrence of this fungus in seeds samples increased with days of incubation. It was recorded as 9 and 10 four days after incubation in KN and OM. It is worth mentioning that, the findings of this study are therefore, important as they highlighted the need for adhering to effective measures that aimed at reducing seed-borne fungi incidence in stable food crops seeds in Sudan.