Fungal flora associated with seeds of some common weeds and their impact on seed germination

The present study reports the fungal flora associated with seed of some common weeds viz, Senna occidentalis (L.)Link, Amaran thus viridis L, Chenopodium album L., Achyranthes aspera L., Datura alba Nees. and Lantana camara L., collected from different localities in suburbs of Lahore. Seven fungal species namly Rhizopus arrhizus Fischer S., Aspergillus niger Tiegh., Aspergillus fumigatus Fresen., Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler, Helminthosporium sp. and Phoma sp. were isolated. The incidence and frequency of these fungi varied with different weed species with maximum number (4) of fungi associated with C. album and minimum (1)with A. aspera. Maximum seed germination was observed in S. occidentalis (80%) while least fungal incidence and minimum seed germination was recorded in A. aspera (10%) with highest fungal incidence. A. fumigatus was consistently found associated with sterilized seeds of Senna occidentalis and appeared to be an internally seed-borne fungus.