Short communication: The distribution and pathogenicity of the seed mycoflora of two tomato varieties cultivated in western Nigeria

African Crop Science Journal, Vol. 4. No.4, pp. 491-496, 1996 SHORT COMMUNICATION The distribution and pathogenicity of the seed mycoflora of two tomato varieties cultivated in western Nigeria S.A. BANKOLE (Received 6 March, 1995; accepted 4 July, 1996) Code Number: CS96091 Sizes of Files: Text: 20.2K Graphics: No associated graphics files ABSTRACT The seed mycoflora of two tomato varieties: Ibadan local and Ife 1 was investigated and a total of 18 fungal species in nine genera were isolated. Most of these fungi were present as surface contaminants, while the internally seed-borne fungi were Alternaria longissima, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium moniliforme, Fusarium oxysporum and Phoma destructiva. When the internally seedborne fungi were tested for pathogenicity on blotter, all except A. flavus and A. niger exhibited varying degrees of pathogenicity to the two tomato varieties. The most pathogenic isolate on Ibadan local was F. oxysporum whereas P. destructiva was the most pathogenic on Ife 1. The fungal isolates were more pathogenic on inoculated seeds planted in sterilised soils than those in unsterilised soils. Key Words: Seed mycoflora, tomato, pathogenicity RESUME La mycologie des semences de deux varietes de tomate (Ibadan local et Ife 1) emit analysee et un total de neuf varietes etaient isolees. La plupart des champignons etaient localisees sur la surface, tandis que les champignons internes sont Alternaria longissima, Aspergillus niger, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium moniliforme, Fusarium oxysporum et Phoma destructiva. Les champignons rencontres dans les grains sont testes pour leur pathogenicite sur buvard et tous, sauf A. flavus et A. niger ont fait apparaitre de niveaux varies de pathogenicite aux deux varietes de tomate. Le pins pathogenique isole a Ibadan local etait F. oxysporum tandis que P. destructiva etait le plus pathogenique sur Ife 1. Les champignons isoles etaient plus virulents pour des grains inocules plantes dans des terres sterilisees que dans des terres non-sterilisees. Mots cles: Mycologie des grains, tomate, pathogene Copyright 1996 African Crop Science Societ