Seed Borne Fungal Pathogen Associated with Soybean (Glycine max L.) and their Management in Jimma, Southwestern Ethiopia

Abstract

The present study was amid to detect and identify seed borne fungi associated with soybean seeds and to assess the effect of surface disinfection time on percent of seed infection. A single variety of soybean “Clark” of two batches obtained from Jimma agriculture research center was used for the study. Seed borne fungi associated with soybean were detected using agar plate and blotter technique. Four disinfection times (0 minute, 2 minute, 4 minute and 6 minute) were tested in the study. A total of five fungi species comprising four genera namely Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium spp., Penicillium sp. and Rhizopus spp. were isolated from soybean seed. Among which Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger were found to be the most prevalent. The study also indicate that time of seed disinfection has significant effect (p>0.05) on percent of seed infection. The highest seed infection was observed in the un-disinfected seed lots while the lowest seed infection was recorded in the plate containing seed disinfected with longer time 6 minute. However the difference in disinfection time has no relation with the germination potential of the grain. Generally, the present study reviled that a wide range of  pathogens are associated with soybean seed, and the time of surface disinfection can considerably affect the percent of seed infection. Moreover, extensive similar researches needs to be conducted to develop safe and effective management tools to tackle problems related with seed borne fungi.

Keywords: Soybean, Seed infection, Disinfection, Germination, Seed borne fungi