Authors : R. Fule and M. N. Bhajbhuje
Page Nos : 196-202
Description :
Abstract:
Fungal metabolites are known organic compounds produced by diverse group of fungal organisms in infested host tissues as well as in nutrient growth medium as results of diverse metabolic activities or chemical reactions occurring in every functional cell during its growth. A leaf blight fungal pathogen, Alternaria solani produced metabolites in culture filtrate were isolated for a period between 7 to 28 days at an interval of seven days in Czapek’s broth medium and studied for their potential on seed germination, seedling vigour and fresh biomass of seedlings of Sorghum vulgare L. An enhancement in seed germination; length of shoot/root and fresh biomass of seedlings over control was recorded with seven days old metabolites treated seeds. The toxicity of the culture filtrate increased with longer duration of treatment and exhibited inhibitory effect. The rate of seed germination, seedling vigour and fresh biomass of seedlings reduced while percent dead seeds and transformation of germinated seeds to abnormal seedlings increased with 14-28 days old culture filtrate containing metabolites treatment. The seed coat of treated hard seeds becomes soft, but seeds did not germinate. The metabolites from seven day old culture filtrate served as growth promoter while metabolites of longer duration are toxic and acts as growth inhibitor.
Keywords: Alternaria solani, metabolites, inhibition, enhancement, seed viability, seedling emergence,
