Improvement of seed quality and field emergence of Fusarium moniliforme infected sorghum seeds using biological agents

Five different cultivars of sorghum seeds infected with a varied degree of Fusarium moniliforme were treated with biocontrol agents. Pure cultures of Pseudomonas fluorescens, Trichoderma harzianum and Chaetomium globosum at the rate of 1×108 cfu g−1 and talcum based formulations of (28×107 cfu g−1), (19×107 cfu g−1) and (4×106 cfu g−1) at the rate of 6 g kg−1 and 10 g kg−1 of seeds were used, respectively. The treated seeds were evaluated for per cent reduction of F moniliforme, seed germination, vigour index and field emergence. It was found that the pure culture of P fluorescens was more effective in reducing the F moniliforme infection followed by T harzianum and C globosum than the Bavistin treated and untreated seeds. Formulations of P fluorescens were effective in reducing the F moniliforme infection and also in increasing the seed germination, vigour index and field emergence, followed by T harzianum and C globosum treatments in comparison with control. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry