STUDY ON SEED HEALTH FOR FOUR CULTIVARS OF Zea mays L. WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON Fusarium moniliforme ,Sheldon

Abstract

Seed health testing was carried out for four cultivars of Zea mays according to the rules of ISTA (1966). These recommended rules were dry inspection and inoculation methods on both blotter and agar media. The blotter method proved to be suitable for detection of Fusariumm moniliforme in the ratio of 33% on seed sample of local variety obtained from Damazin State . It was the heighst percentage incidence. The incidence of the fungus was 24% in sample from Kassala while the incidence of the fungus was 15% in cultivar Hudeiba 1 (certified seed) Other fungi detected were Aspergillus spp, Drechslera maydie, Macrophomina phaseolina , Alternaria spp and colletoteichum sp. The physiological studies on the suitable temperature for growth of Fusarium moniliforme proved that pH 7 was the optimum for fungus growth . The source of carbon on patoto agar medium sucrose . The fungus produced both macro and microconidia in the ratio of 3 - 13% respectively . The pathogenicity test revealed that the fungus causes seed rot and damping- off . Drechslera maydis as detected in the local sample of Damazin State and cultivar Hudeiba 2 (certified seed) . The suitable temperature for growth of Fusarium moniliforme as found to be 28 0 C and the suitable medium was potato dextrose agar (PDA). In the study extract of some plants were used as by-products for control of Fusarium moniliforme . These were Proboscidea parvuflora, Ginger and Ushar ( Calotropis procera). These by – products gave good promising results. ix ‫‪It was found to be as an effective agent against the fungus Fusarium‬‬ ‫‪moniliforme‬‬