Abstract

Influence of different Fusarium species on seed germination and seedlings growth of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.)

Author(s): Penugonda Shilpa, Vankudoth Koteswara Rao, Sivadevuni Girisham, Solipuram Madhusudhan Reddy

Effect of agriculturally important Fusariumspecies on the seed germination and seedling growth of finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) was investigated. Species of Fusarium caused significant seed germination inhibition and seedling growth which varied with the species and age of the culture. Culture filtrates of F. moniliforme, F. proliferatum, F. chlamydosporum, F. aethiopicum, F. heterosporum and F. sporotrichoides were comparatively more toxic. The correlation coefficients between polished and unpolished variety of fingermillet seed germination inhibition (0.574, P=0.005), shoot elongation inhibition (0.893, P=0.0000) and root elongation inhibition (0.175, P=0.1770) with culture filtrates of different species of Fusarium was recorded. Pathogenicity studies revealed that F. roseum, F.sporotrichoides, F. proliferatum and F.oxysporum caused seedrot and seedling death. The maximumroot elongation inhibition (52.20%), mean (36.39%) andminimum(14.73%)were recorded toward the toxicity of different species of Fusarium. Significant and positive correlation (0.802, P=0.0026) between the root and shoot, (0.393, P=0.130) between shoot and leaf, (0.121, P=0.369) between root and leaf elongation inhibition of finger millet could be observed. The culture filtrates ofmajormycotoxigenic strains of Fusariumrevealed production of Zearalenone (ZEA), T2 toxin, nivalenol (NIV), Deoxynivalenol (DON) and Deoxyscripenol (DAS). Toxicity of Fusarium species to its seed germination and seedling growth may be attributed to their secondary metabolites including mycotoxins.