Detection of Seed Borne Fungi Associated with Some Cereals and Legume Crops of Seeds Grown in Main Season at Holetta Agricultural Research Center

Abstract

Fungi are a major cause of postharvest deterioration of cereals and legumes. The current work was carried out using sixteen samples of eight crops wheat, barley, Teff, oat, lentil, fababean, mungbean and chickpea samples were collected to investigate the presence and incidence of seed borne fungi associated with them using PDA media. Results of the mycological analysis revealed that a total of 14 fungi belonging to 11 genera viz. Penicillium sp., Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Bipolaris sp., Botrytis sp., Eppicocum sp., Sclerotium sp., Alternaria sp., Fusarium graminaerum, Fusarium moniliformae, Fusarium oxysporium, Trichoderma sp., Tilletia sp. and Rhizopus sp. were isolated from samples of the different crop seeds obtained from seed multiplication store, EIAR, HARC. Infection percentage varied from 5-100% in samples of seed multiplication store. In wheat variety wane and limu, in oat variety CI8237, CI8238, CI8239 and CI8240, in chickpea variety Natoli, Habru and Arerti, and in fababean variety Dosha showed 100% infection followed by Wolki of Fababean (97.5%), and one variety of Mungbean showed infection of 80%. One variety Iboni of Barley showed 75% infection and Dagem and Kora of Teff showed 37.5% and 12.5% infection. Bekoji variety of Lentil showed least infections of 5%. The obtained results revealed that seed-borne pathogens were present in most seed samples of important cereals and legume crops. Some of the identified fungi are potential producers of mycotoxins, thus their presence is important in terms of reduced food safety for humans and animals. Therefore, an early and accurate diagnosis and pathogen surveillance will provide time for the development and the application of disease management strategies. Keywords: