Seed-borne Mycoflora of major food crops in Ghana

Seed-borne fungi of 152 seed samples of sorghum, pearl millet, rice, maize, groundnut, cowpea, okra, pepper, watermelon, tomato and garden eggs were assessed for fungal infection using the blotter method. Twenty genera and 32 species of fungi were recorded from the seed samples. One hundred and three sorghum samples examined were infected by 24 fungi of which Phoma sorghina (43.3%) and Fusarium moniliforme (40.3%) were the largest groups of fungi recorded. Twenty pearl millet samples tested were infected by 14 fungi with P. sorghina (30.9%) and F. moniliforme (12.2%) as the most frequently recorded fungi. Seven rice samples examined had eight fungi recorded with low percentage infections of important seed-borne pathogens namely Bipolaris oryzae (0.9%), Microdochium oryzae (0.7%) and Sarocladium oryzae (0.5%). Eight fungal organisms were recorded on three samples of maize with F. moniliforme (32.3%) occurring most frequently. Two samples of groundnut tested were found to be heavily attacked by Aspergillus flavus (50.3%) and A. niger (21.8%). Seven fungi were recorded on two samples of cowpea with F. pallidoroseum recording the highest infection of 30.1%. The fungal load of vegetable seed samples was comparatively low with the exception of Phoma sp. and F. moniliforme that occurred in higher numbers on both tomato and pepper while F. pallidoroseum and F. moniliforme occurred in appreciable levels on okra. The least occurring fungi were recorded in the text. Journal of Science and Technology Vol.24(2) 2004: 22-3