STUDY ON MYCOFLORA ASSOCIATED WITH SEEDS OF DIFFERENT CITRUS SPECIES

This study was carried out on the mycoflora associated with seeds of different citrus species. Citrus seed material was collected from districts of Punjab, i.e. Multan, Sargodha and Khanpur. Standard methods were applied for the isolation and identification of fungi. A total of 11 fungi including Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Dreschslera tetramera, Alternaria alternata, Curvularia lunata, Macrophomina phaseolina, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium solani, Fusarium moniliforme, Rhizopus and Penicillium spp were isolated from the seeds of citrus. For control of isolated seed-born fungi, 3 recommended fungicides such as Ridomil Gold, Bavistin, Score and two chemical Salicylic acid and Boric acid, were used at 20, 30, 40 mg/10 mL and 5, 6, 7 µL/10 mL, respectively and chemical with 20, 30, 40 mg/10 mL. All these fungicide and chemicals significantly reuced with population of all fungi present in naturally infected seed samples. Ridomil Gold and Salicylic acid were found to be the best for the control of seed-born fungi of citrus seed at 40 mg/10 mL. The isolation and identification of different mycotoxins is essential to study health status of the citrus consumers and to safeguard the standards of WTO