Seed Pathology Studies in Bamboo (Bambusa bambos (L.) Voss)

Abstract

Bamboos are naturally propagating both sexually and asexually from seeds and rhizomes. Ground collected seeds often infect with soil borne pathogens and it invades during germination and causes secondary infection. During seed storage, pathogens multiply and affect the viability of seeds and reduce the storage life. Toexamine the presence of pathogens, species, and its influence on seed germination %, freshly collected seeds of Bambusa bambos (L.) Voss were tested by placing four replicates of 25 seeds in petriplate containing wet blotter paper and incubated at 25°C in alternate dark and light (12h) for seven days and examined under microscope. The seeds were heavily infected (39%) and observed less germination (62%). The spores developed in seeds were examined and predominant species observed were Alterneria spp., Fusarium spp., Aspergilus flavus and Aspergilus niger. The seeds were subjected to dry and wet treatment with Bavistin, Ridomil and Captan. Later surface sterilized with Thiourea and Mercury Chloride. Soaking seeds in 0.5% Bavistin solution for 1h, dried back to original moisture content and dry dressing with 4 g of Captan kg-1 of seeds. This was done effectively to control the surface borne pathogens with low infection (5%) and high germination percentage (78) and showed significant difference between treatments.