Sanitary quality in seeds from species of Caatinga biome and control methods for fungi

Abstract

Sanitary and quality of seeds of three native species (Aroeira, Juca, and Mofumbo) from the Caatinga biome, Brazil, and different control methods of microorganisms in seeds were evaluated. We used 500 seeds of each species, 100 for each treatment: control, superficial disinfestation, Enzimatic II, Captana and Mancozebe. Seeds were distributed in Petri dishes containing potato-dextrose-agar culture medium and stored in incubator type Biochemical Oxygen Demand at 28 ± 2 °C for five days. For germination tests, 100 seeds were arranged in germitest paper previously sterilized and moistened with sterilized distilled water, and incubated for 19 (mofumbo), 20 (juca), and 25 (aroeira) days in incubators at 28 ± 2 °C. Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, A. ochraceus, Lasiodiplodia sp., Penicillium sp. and Rhizopus sp. are associated with the studied seeds. Captana reduced the incidence of Aspergillus and Penicillium in the seeds, being the most efficient in controlling the microfauna associated with these seeds. Enzimatic II also proved to be an efficient control for Aspergillus spp. There was no interference of the tested products on seed germination.