Vol. 11, Special Issue 9 (2022)

Author(s):
Jitesh Kumar and Dr. Bijender Kumar

Abstract:
The present investigation was undertaken to determine the nature of seed discoloration, detection and identification of seed borne fungal pathogens associated with discoloration of rice. In the present study, seven types of seed discolorations namely; light to dark brown dot like spots, dark purple discoloration, light pink discoloration, eye shaped spots with ash grey centers, ash grey discoloration marked by brown band, dark brown spots and black discoloration were observed. Twelve fungi namel; Alternaria alternata, Fusarium- oxysporum, F. verticillioides, Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, A. ochraceus, Nigrospora Oryzae, Penicillium sp. Bipolaris tetramera, Curvularia lunata, Curvularia pallescens and Bipolaris Oryzae, were found to be associated with different types of seed discolorations. Of the two incubation methods tested, agar plate method was found to be more efficient than standard blotter test. The study has shown that fungi associated with seed discoloration are major constraint in production of quality seeds of rice.