Efficacy of herbal powders on seed mycoflora and seed quality of oilseeds

Abstract

The present study involved seed health testing of four oil seeds (mustard, niger, groundnut and sunflower) for seed-borne fungi and seed vigor, and the evaluation of neem and tulsi leaf powders as seed treatment biofungicides. Standard blotter, agar plate and paper towel methods were employed. All the seed samples tested yielded several seed borne fungi. The herbal powders were screened individually and in combination (1:1) at the concentrations of 2, 5 and 10% by seed treatment. The incidence of seed borne fungi from oilseeds was substantially reduced by neem and tulsi powder on seed treatment in comparison to untreated control seeds. The leaf powders also increased seed germination and seedling emergence with increased shoot and root length. These plant powders could possibly be exploited in the management of seed-borne pathogenic fungi to prevent deterioration of oil seeds and to increase their vigor in an eco-friendly way.