Vol. 9, Issue 8 (2020)

Author(s):
AK Jain

Abstract:
Fungi harboring finger millet (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn.) seeds are potentially toxic to plant and indirectly to human health. Seed borne pathogens retarded the market value of the grains and deteriorate the nutritional quality. In the present review, attempts are made to compile the available information on mycoflora associated with the finger millet seeds, their role in disease development, phyto-pathological effects, toxic substances produced by them and their management by various methods. Eighty seven fungal species belonging to 38 genera have been reported in different cultivars of finger millet. Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Drechslera nodulosum, D. tetramera, Fusarium equiseti, F. moniliforme, F. semitectum, Pyricularia grisea, Curvularia lunata, C. pallascence and Phoma sp. were found predominantly associated with the seeds and reported to cause seed rot, seedling blight and leaf spots in finger millet. Deleterious effects of mycoflora on seed viability and seedling growth parameters were also reported. Phytotoxic compounds produced by Bipolaris bicolor (Cochlioquinone A, Cochlioquinone B, Stemphone and Isocochlioquinone), Pyricularia grisea (Pyrichalasin H), Aspergillus species (Aflatoxins, Petulin, Terreic acid and Sterigmocystin), Fusarium species (Zearalenone, Fusarinone-X, Deoxynivalenol, Nivalenol, Diacetoxyscripenole, Neosolanil and HT-2 toxins) and Penicillium griseofulvum (Cyclopiazonic acid) were found to inhibit or suppress the seed germination, shoot/root elongation and seedling vigour. Seed treatment with botanicals viz. Dhatura, Neem, Aloe vera, Garlic, Tulsi, Ardusi, Piper leaf extracts and seed biopriming with Trichoderma viride, T. harzianum, T.faciculatum, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis were reported to minimize the seed associated mycoflora in finger millet and enhance the seed quality parameters. A number of systemic and non-systemic fungicides were reported to control the seed borne mycoflora in finger millet.