Pathogenic potential of seed mycobiota of Helianthus annuus L.

The seed mycobiota associated naturally with the oil seeds causes seed deterioration making them unfit for consumption and oil extract. The seed borne fungi (mycobiota) inhibits seed germination, seedling emergence and causes diseases to the crop of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). The seed mycobiota of sunflower seeds was detected by standard blotter method (SBM) and agar plate method (APM). Eight most dominant fungi detected on cloth stored seeds were collected from different sunflower cultivated areas. Incidence of Alternaria helianthi was maximum in both the methods (SBM and APM) using unsterilized seeds i.e., 9.4% and 8.5%, respectively. However, lower incidence was detected in Alternaria alternata. The percent germination of seeds was markedly suppressed by all fungi. Maximum percent reduction in germination over control was observed in Curvularia lunata (38.0%). The maximum decrease in plumule length was observed in Fusarium moniliforme (39.27 mm) followed by F. equiseti (42.30 mm) while maximum reduction in radicle length was also observed in seedling developed with F. moniliforme (23.20 mm) followed by F. equiseti (24.22 mm). Aspergillus niger and R. stolonifer did not shown significant affect on plumule and radicle length. So, all tested fungi played important role in causing diseases in the fields and also damaged the seeds under storage conditions. © 2022, The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Society for Plant Research.