Screening of Microflora Associated with Brinjal Seeds (Solanum melongena L.) in Western Part of India

Abstract

Total 110 seed samples of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) were collected from 12 major growing districts of Rajasthan and subjected to dry seed examination (DSE). DSE revealed asymptomatic (07.75-97.5%), moderately discolored (04.50-67.50%) and shriveled discolored (03.25-38.75%) seeds. Symptomatic seeds in DSE showed various types of discolorations, deformation like white crust on seed surface. The seeds with water soaked symptoms and spots on seed surface were also observed such seeds on incubation yielded bacterial species. The incubation of symptomatic seeds about 21 fungal species of 14 genera and 3 bacterial species were observed viz. Alternaria alternata, A. solani, Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Cladosporium oxysporium, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium oxysporium, F. solani, Rhizoctonia bataticola and Rhizopus nigricans etc and bacterial species like Xanthomonas axonopodis var. vesicatoria, Ralstonia solanacearum and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The microflora severely affects seed germination (failure or delayed germination), wilting and rotting of seedlings, bacterial oozing, collapse of hypocotyls and cotyledonary leaves which resulting seedling mortality. High yield of microflora was obtained on standard blotter method (SBM) and agar plate method (APM).