Research Article, Vegetos Vol: 31 Issue: 1

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

Renganayaki PR^1*, Sangareswari M¹, Nagajothi² and Ramamoorthy K³

¹Department of Seed Science and Technology, Forest College and Research Institute, Mettupalayam, Tamil Nadu, India

²Department of Silviculture, Forest College and Research Institute, Mettupalayam, Tamil Nadu, India

³Seed Centre, TNAU, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

*Corresponding Author : Renganayaki PR
Department of Seed Science and Technology, Forest College and Research Institute, Mettupalayam, Tamil Nadu, India
Tel: 9486587062
E-mail: prr1966@gmail.com

Received: June 07, 2017 Accepted: January 08, 2018 Published: January 12, 2018

Citation: Renganayaki PR, Sangareswari M, Nagajothi, Ramamoorthy K (2018) Seed Pathology Studies in Bamboo (Bambusa bambos (L.) Voss). Vegetos 31:1. doi: 10.4172/2229-4473.1000391

Abstract

Keywords: Bamboo seed; pathogen; Infection treatment; Seed germination

Introduction

India is the second richest country in bamboo genetic resources after China. These two countries together have more than half the total bamboo resources globally. Sharma [1] reported 136 species of bamboos occurring in India. The annual economic value of total bamboo consumption has been estimated as $10 billion [2]. The species propagated both by sexually and asexually. In forestry, availability of good quality seeds is an important factor for raising plant stock on a large scale. Many reasons starting from long interval of flowering, improper seed set, high percentage of immature seeds, poor viability, short living period and seed health are the limitations of seed propagation in Bamboo spp.

The ability of seeds to germinate greatly depends upon seed health and storage conditions. The microorganism either external or internal affects the seed quality and seedling vigor by reducing the germination percentage or seedlings becomes less resistant or susceptible to open environment. Several fungi have been found associated with the seeds but only a few of them are pathogenic causing poor germination. Numerous fungi have been recorded on seeds of Bambusa bambos, B. nutans (Wall ex. Munro), Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.), Giganto chlaohasskarliana (Kurz) Backer ex Heyne, Thyrso stachyssiamensis (Gamble.) in Thailand [3-5] and in B. bambos and D. strictus in India [6,7]. A total of 65 fungi belonging to 37 genera and two bacteria have been reported on stored seeds of different species of bamboos from India and Thailand. Proper seed treatment prior to raising nursery will reduce the problem of pathogenicity and its further effect on seedling emergence and growth. Mohanan [7] observed a comparatively low incidence of seed microorganisms on seeds stored under low temperature (l5°C) and higher germination (82%), as compared with the seeds stored at 28.2°C (63%). Hot water and fungicidal seed treatments are commonly used to control the seed-borne pathogens [8,9]. Fungicides as dust, slurry and soaking have been used to remove the external inoculums and to protect the seedlings in the nursery. Though seed pathology is an integral part of seed technology, forest seed pathology has not developed to the extent of agricultural and horticultural seed pathology. Hence the information on seed treatment for seed health either meager or nil. Bamboo seeds have long been collected from ground, moist soil and starch nature of seed making the microorganisms to invade and interfere with germination resulted in production of diseased seedlings. Hence an experiment was conducted to know the presence of fungi, fungal species associated with bamboo seeds and their control.

Materials and Methods

Fresh seeds of B. bambos collected from Gudalore with initial germination of 62% and moisture content of 12% constituted the study material. To examine the external pathogens four replicates of 25 seeds each were placed in petriplate containing wet blotter paper and incubated at 25°C in alternate dark and light (12 h) for seven days, and, examined under microscope [10]. To reduce the load of pathogens the seeds were treated with different fungicides (Bavistin, Ridomil and Captan) both as wet and dry treatments and surface sterilization chemicals (Thiourea and Mercury Chloride).

The seeds were dry dressed with 0.1% of Mercury chloride, 2 g of Bavistin and 2 g of Ridomil/kg of seeds. During wet treatment, the seeds were soaked in 0.25% Thiourea solution and 0.5% Bavistin solution for 1h. After 1 h the seeds were dried back to original moisture content (12%) and treated with 2, 3 and 4g of Captan as dry dressing and in one treatment the seeds were soaked in 0.5% Bavistin+0.5% captan solution for 1 h. The treated seeds were subjected to blotter test [10] to study the pathogen infection and germination tests in an inclined plate method, along with control and observed for seedling length in cm (root and shoot) by measuring all normal seedlings [10]. Vigour index [11] and dry matter production in mg^-seedling by drying all normal seedlings.

Results and Discussion

In the present study predominant fungal species identified through wet blotter method were Alterneria spp, Fusarium spp, Aspergilusflavus and Aspergilusniger (Figures 1 and 2). Namdeo et al. [6] and Mohanan [7] reported the presence of storage fungi in B. bambos, and their potential to pose problems in nursery [12]. The infection noticed was 39% and the affected seed lot registered germination of 62% (Table 1). The reduced germination due to Aspergillus, Alternaria, Rhizoctonia, Fusarium, Phoma and Chaetomium in soybean seeds was reported by Ramamoorthy and Karivaratharaju [13] and in groundnut by Ibiam et al. [14] and four indigenous tree species by other researchers.

Figure 1: Pathogen infection and germination of Bambusa bambos seeds.

Figure 2: Microscopic panorama of pathogens presents on Bambusa bambos.

Table 1: Influence of chemicals and surface sterilization on pathogen control and seed germination.

Appropriate seed treatment can help in minimizing the carryover of fugal inoculum to seedlings and subsequently to the field. In the present study, pathogen infection was low (5%) in 1 h 0.5% Bavistin soaking+4 g Captan dry dressed seeds and recorded higher germination (78%) (Table 1 and Figure 3). When the seeds were treated with single fungicide either Bavistin (T4 and T5) or Ridomyl (T3) they failed to arrest the fungi completely, however fungal load was reduced from 39 to 20% in Ridomyl and to 27% in Bavistin treatment. The combination of Bavistin and Captan either as soaking or as dry dressing taken care of infection; at higher dosage of 4 g of Captan along with 0.5% Bavistin soaking was effective against storage fungi. This reduced the infection to 5% without affecting the germination. The results of present study are in accordance with the findings of Ibiam et al [15].

Figure 3: Influence of treatment on pathogen infection.

Conclusion

From the above results it could be inferred that soaking B. bambos 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 effectively control the surface borne pathogens.

Acknowledgement

The authors are thankful to National Bamboo Mission, Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operation, Government of India, New Delhi for funding to carry out the research on various aspects of seed viability.

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