Mycobiota development during matriconditioning of onion seeds.

Anna Szafirowska

Research Institute of Vegetable Crops, 96-100 Skierniewice, Poland (Poland)

Regina Janas

Research Institute of Vegetable Crops, 96-100 Skierniewice, Poland (Poland)

Abstract

Physiological seed conditioning is applied to improve and enhance seed performance. The treatment is based on prolonged hydration. It creates suitable conditions to pathogenic seed-borne mycophlora development. One of the conditioning method which employs the matric properties of solid water carrier is matriconditioning. In this procedure seeds are subjected to hydration for several days. The aim of research was to examine mycophlora development during matriconditioning and to find out, if commonly recommended chemical seed treatment is effective in seed protection.Following treatments were used: untreated – control seeds „C”, seeds treated with chemicals (carbendasim, thiram, metalaxyl and carbosulphate) – „C+CH”, seeds matriconditioned with Micro Cel-E – „MC” and seeds treated with above mentioned chemicals and then matriconditioned (MC+CH). Fungi isolation and development were conducted on medium and fungi diagnosis was taken under light microscopy.The results revealed stimulating effect of matriconditioning on pathogenic and saprophytic fungi occurrence on onion seeds. Significant differences between isolated fungi were observed in comparison to control. In population of mycophlora isolated from matriconditioned seeds, high percentage of occasional parasites were observed such as Alternaria porri, Alternaria tenuis as well as fungi of species Botrytis and Penicillium. Matriconditioned seeds were more infected by all above mentioned fungi. In vitro, fungicides showed differentiate effect on pathogenic and saprophytic mycophlora, from almost total control up to a high tolerance. The lowest seed infection presented C+CH treatment- it is chemical control with no matriconditioning. Chemical seed treatment applied before matriconditioning improved seed health status of matriconditioned seeds (MC+CH).

Keywords:

matriconditioning, mycophlora, onion, seed