FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH LEUCAENA SEEDS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON GERMINATION

Abstract

Seed health analysis was conducted on 5 different cultivars of Leucaena leucocephala. Twenty-seven different fungal species of both field pathogenic and storage importance were recorded. Fusarium moniliforme, F. oxysporum, F. solani, Verticillium sp., Trichoderma viridae and T. harzianum were among the most important field fungi while Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, A. candidus, A. fumigatus, A. ruber, A. versicolor and Penicillium sp. were some of those with seed storage significance. Of the 3 standard methods employed for the seed health test, standard blotter method was found superior to deep freeze and agar plate system. Hot water treatment at 85°C for 5 min was shown to ward off most of the seed-borne fungi and retain the viability of the seeds.