Effect of temperature and humidity on the composition of wheat phytopathogens during grain storage

Abstract

High humidity, low temperature and pathogens can significantly reduce the quality of cereal crop seeds during storage. The effect of temperature and humidity on the infestation of wheat seeds by phytopathogens during storage was studied. A decrease in infestation of seed material with all types of fungi in a warm warehouse at 14% humidity was found. When humidity increased to 20%, there was an increase in total infestation. The dependence of seedling infestation on seed storage conditions is shown. Warm storage mode of seed storage at normal humidity (14%) revealed the highest index of disease development – 2.9 times higher compared to cold storage mode, but with similar humidity. Similar data were obtained when determining the prevalence of root rot. The highest incidence of the disease was noted in plants sown with seeds stored at 20% humidity in a warm warehouse, which is 1.5 times higher compared to the seeds sown at standard humidity (14%). When seeds were stored cold, the prevalence of root rot at high humidity (20%) was 63% – 7% higher than at standard humidity (14%). At higher humidity (20%) in both warm and cold storage, the prevalence of root rot is higher than at standard humidity. It was noted that under warm seed storage conditions at 20% moisture content, organotropic specialization is characterized by allocation of pathogens in all plant organs.