Effect of stored grain fungi on seed germination of sesame and their control

Four species of seedborne fungi, that is Alternaria sesame, A. sesamicola, Curvularia lunata, and Fusarium oxysporum were isolated from infected seeds of sesame varieties PR-125, S-17, PR-19-9, and, PR-14-2. The frequency of fungi was highest from PR-125 (25.63%) followed by S-17 (24.75%), PR-19-9 (23.13%) and PR-14-2 (22.5%). A. sesame was isolated as most predominant fungus according to its infection percentage (22.5-62.5). However, C. lunata was most frequently isolated from the variety PR-14-2. Maximum seed germination percentage (82.0) was obtained from the healthy seeds of PR-14-2 on filter paper followed by PR-125 (76.0), S-17 (67.0) and lowest from PR-19-9 (62.0). Vitigran blue significantly (P=0.05) reduced the colony growth of the fungus followed by Liro-Manzeb, Dithane M-45 and Topsin- M The number of spots on 2-months old inoculated plants was significantly (P=0.05) reduced by spraying with Vitigran blue as compared to Liro-Manzeb, Dithane M-45 and Topsin-M