Effect of seed borne pathogens on germination of some vegetable seeds

Seed borne infection and germination of seeds of 7 vegetables viz. amaranth, red amaranth, spinach, okra, cucumber, tomato and eggplant were tested and 11 fungi were detected which were Alternaria spp., Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Phomopsis vexans, Curvularia spp., Fusarium spp., Penicillium spp., Rhizopus spp., Colletotrichum dematium, Macrophomina phaseolina and Cladosporium spp. Six fungi were detected in amaranth, six fungi in red amaranth, four fungi in spinach, six fungi in okra, four fungi in cucumber, four fungi in tomato and five fungi in eggplant seeds. The highest total seed borne fungal infection was found in okra (26.75%), while the lowest was found in cucumber (13.50%). The highest percent germination was recorded in cucumber (87%), while the lowest in okra (49.5%). Maximum germination failure was recorded in okra (50.5%) and the lowest was recorded in cucumber (13%). Maximum normal seedlings were recorded in cucumber (77%) and the minimum was in okra (45%). The highest number of abnormal seedlings was found in okra (4%) and lowest in eggplant (2%). The highest number of diseased seedlings was found in okra (9%) and lowest in cucumber (2%). Maximum numbers of dead seeds were found in red amaranth (48%), while lowest in cucumber (18%). Among the vegetable seeds, highest seedling vigor index was encountered in cucumber (2150.5) and lowest in red amaranth (275.95).Â