Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

ASSESSMENT OF SEED QUALITY PARAMETERS IN FRUIT ROTINFECTED SEEDS OF BRINJAL CAUSED BY PHOMOPSIS VEXANSAND DEVELOPMENT OF ECO-FRIENDLY MANAGEMENT FORQUALITY SEED PRODUCTION

Niranjan Prasad H.P., Atul Kumar, Sandeep K. Lal, Partha Shah,Jameel Akhtar and Shailendra Kumar Jha

Abstract

Phomopsis vexans is an important seed-borne pathogen and it is highly detrimental tobrinjalcrop. Amongseventeen brinjal genotypes studied for the effect of fruit rot on the seed quality parameters using infectedand healthy seeds, the germination percentage of infected seeds is relatively lower than the healthy seeds.The reduction in germination percentage of diseased seeds varied between 14 to 67%.Seed quality parameterslike germination and vigour were negatively correlated and the electrical conductivity was positivelycorrelated with fruit rot incidence. This shows that a higher incidence of pathogens will lower the viabilityand vigour of seeds and the infection level is also dependent on genotype and the environmental condition.The three known biocontrol agents were analyzed by using the dual culture technique for the antagonisticeffect on the pathogens. The results showed that out of three biocontrol agents, Trichodermaharzianumshowed maximum antagonistic effect followed by Pseudomonas fluorescence and Bacillus subtilis. Differentmodes of action like mycoparasitism, competition, antibiosis and production of antibiotics and secondarymetabolites like harzianiol may act as inhibitors against Phomopsis vexans.