Efficacy of some fungicides against seed-borne mycoflora of wheat

Efficacy of four fungicides namely Acrobat MZ, Dithane M-45, Aliette and Metalaxyl plus Mancozeb was tested against seed-borne mycoflora of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Four fungal species viz. Drechslera australiensis (Bugnicourt) Subramanian & Jain, Aspergillus terreus Thom, Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler and Fusarium oxysporum were isolated from the stored grains of wheat collected from three different sources from district Kasur. Drechslera australiensis was found to be the most frequently occurring fungal species from wheat grains exhibiting 43% incidence. A variable effect of different concentrations of the test fungicides viz. recommended dose (R), 0.75R, 0.50R, and 0.25R was recorded against D. australiensis. Metalaxyl plus Mancozeb and Dithane were found to be the most effective fungicide. All the employed concentrations of Metalaxyl plus Mancozeb significantly suppressed D. australiensis. Similarly all applied concentrations of Dithane except 0.25R completely arrested the growth of this fungus. Effect of Acrobat was intermediate where 7–17% incidence of D. australiensis was recorded in different concentrations as compared to 43% in control. Aliette was found to be the least effective fungicide were only higher doses partially suppressed the D. australiensis. Effect of different fungicides on germination and seedling growth of wheat was also variable. Effect of fungicides on seed germination and shoot biomass was significant. Application 0.50R Dithane and 0.50R & 0.75R Aliette significantly enhanced shoot length. Dithane and Aliette application enhanced root biomass while lower concentrations of 0.25R and 0.50R of Metalaxyl plus Mancozeb reduced the root biomass