Effect of GA3 and Azotobacter-treated Plants on the Seed Mycoflora of two Cultivars of Soybean

Abstract

Summary Mycoflora of freshly harvested and stored seeds of Glycine max (L.), cvs. Bragg and Clark-63, was studied. Higher fungal population per gram dry weight was found in cv. Bragg seed as compared to that in cv. Ankur. Certain fungi were common to seeds of both cultivars, whereas others were isolated either from one or the other cultivar seed. Seeds of Bragg were found to have more seed-borne fungi. Stored seeds of both cultivars harboured higher total fungal population than those of harvested seeds. Qualitatively, harvested seeds of both cultivars yielded more fungi than the stored seeds. Different concentrations of GA 3 and Azotobacter were sprayed at various stages of development of the plants to act on the mycoflora of both cultivars' seeds. In both cases the fungal population was reduced. GA 3 exhibited greater effect on seed mycoflora when compared to Azotobacter . Effect of GA 3 and Azotobacter on the mycoflora of cv. Clark-63 seeds was less marked than that of cv. Bragg seeds. Seed mycoflora has considerable significance in agriculture. Due to it seeds deteriorate, plants suffer from seed-borne disease, change in chemical composition of seeds, and thus the quality and production of seeds is also influenced ( Singh 1980).