Pathogenicity of seed-borne and seedling fungi of groundnut cv. Tatu

Abstract

Seeds and seedlings of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) cv. Tatu were investigated under laboratory and green house conditions to detect and identify any seed-borne pathogenic fungi present, besides determining the pathogenicity and the seed damages. The fungi detected were Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum, Cercospora arachidicola, Rhizopus sp., Penicillium sp., Cladosporium sp. and Phoma sp.. The most frequently isolated fungi were Aspergillus niger and Penicillium sp.. These fungi were transmitted by seeds and caused damping-off before and after seedling emergence.