Response of Commercial Rice Germplasm on Agronomic Trait against Seed Contaminants

Abstract

Rice exhibits a significant share as a part of human food globally as well as in Pakistan. So, it is necessarily important to cope with the ever increasing food requirements through high yield of quality rice by cultivating improved varieties. In conventional conditions where farmers by themselves also prepare there seed from the best lot of standing crop for the upcoming season. In spite of the awareness of the importance of quality seed undesired biological and inert material contamination is experienced. Therefore sample drawn from commercial lots was evaluated against microbial and inert matter contaminants. Test material comprising on five commercial fine and course varieties exhibited wide range of variation in their susceptibility response. The seeds of IR-06 had considerable less inert matter (0.57%), followed by Basmati Super (0.67%), Basmati-2000 (0.85%), KS-282 (2.14%) and KSK-133 (3.28%). Basmati Super possessed highest germination potential of 96% in comparison with Basmati-2000 (92%), IR-06 (86%), KSK-133 (82%) and KS-282 (80%). The 1000 seeds weight of KS-282 was 24 g; while, the KSK-133, IR-06, Basmati Super and Basmati-2000 had 23, 23, 22.5 and 22.5 g; respectively. The comparative study of root and shoot length showed homogenized results, as 4 out of 5 varieties recorded average shoot length up to 15 cm. The remaining one variety (IR-06) was with quite dwarf seedlings. In case of root length again IR-06 was least in its length comparitively; while, the rest having average root length not less then 6.5 cm. KSK-133 atained the maximum average root length of 10 cm. Keen analysis of seed associated mycoflora was resulted in the isolation of Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Penicillium sp., Alternaria spp., Fusarium spp. and A. fumigatus. Moreover study would help the producers for selection of suitable variety in their fields.

Key words: Mycology, Agronomy, Physical Analysis, Seed Pathology.