Singh et al., Biological Forum – An International Journal 13(2): 507-515(2021) 507 ISSN No. (Print): 0975-1130 ISSN No. (Online): 2249-3239 Detection of Seed Borne Mycoflora Associated with Paddy Varieties of Eastern Vidarbha L.B. Singh 1 *, R.W. Ingle 1 , S.R. Potdukhe 1 , T.S. Pillai 1 and R.M. Wadaskar 2 1 Plant Pathology Section, College of Agriculture, Nagpur, India. 2 Agricultural Entomology Section, College of Agriculture, Nagpur, Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Krishingar Akola, 444104, (Maharashtra), India. (Corresponding author: L.B. Singh*) (Received 05 May 2021, Accepted 30 June, 2021) (Published by Research Trend, Website: www.researchtrend.net) ABSTRACT: Paddy grain discolouration is an important disease and it has led to huge losses when the favourable conditions are available. It is caused by a complex of mycoflora. Paddy seeds of 7 varieties viz. PKV Kisan, D100, Sindewahi, RPN 7, RPM, MTU 1001 and 1010 were collected from different regions of Eastern Vidarbha. The maximum discoloured grade of each variety were tested for seed mycoflora by Standard blotter paper method and agar plate method. From the two methods, a total of 20 fungal species belonging to 16 fungal genera viz., Fusarium moniliforme, Fusarium solani, Fusarium semitectum, Fusarium equiseti, Curvularia lunata, Chaetomium sp., Alternaria padwickii, Tilletia sp., Rhizoctonia solani, Taeniolina sp., Aspergillus flavus, Sarocladium oryzae, Aspergillus niger, Bipolaris oryzae, Acremoniella sp., Pyricularia oryzae, Nigrospora sp., Pestalotia sp., Cladosporium sp. and Rhizopus sp. were detected. Pre-treatment was given to all the seven varieties of paddy and reduction of superficial and saprophytic fungi growth along with pathogenic fungi was recorded in pre-treated seeds. Thus, the study has proved that paddy seeds are associated with different mycoflora. Grain discolouration should be the current concern in order to halt the disease from affecting paddy production in the country. Therefore, production and post production activities of crop should be done carefully for disease free, quality seeds and to minimize crop failure. Keywords: Paddy, blotter paper method, seed mycoflora, agar plate method, pre-treatment. INTRODUCTION Paddy (Oryza sativa L.) is the staple food for about four billion people. It plays a vital role in the culture and heritage of many Asian countries. It is the staple food for more than 65 per cent of the country’s population, playing an important role in livelihood and food security of people and directly contributes to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). Globally, paddy production amounts to approximately 508.7 million tonnes (Anonymous, 2020a). India grows paddy in 43 Mha which is 22 per cent of crop land with production of 112 million tons (Mt) of milled paddy and average productivity of 2.6 t/ha (Anonymous, 2020 b ). It is cultivated in both large scale and small scale by many farmers around the world, except in Antartica (Muthayya et al., 2014). Of all biotic stresses that affects paddy, discolouration of paddy grains is an important disease that damages paddy seeds, thus limiting paddy production in many countries (Rajappan et al., 2001; Pizzatti and Cortesi, 2008). Paddy is exposed to attack of 50 diseases that includes 21 mycoflora (Ilyas et al., 2012). The symptoms of glume discolouration maybe exhibited internally or externally on kernels. The favourable conditions for disease development includes higher temperature, higher humidity, maturity stage with rainfall, pollination during high pressure wind and periods of low light (Ashfaq et al., 2017; Dirchwolf et al., 2018). Mycoflora such as Alternaria spp., Fusarium spp., Pyricularia oryzae, Sarocladium oryzae, Sclerotium spp., Drechslera oryzae, Penicillium spp., Aspergillus spp., Phoma spp. and Cercospora spp. are reported to be associated with paddy grain discolouration (Islam and Ahmed 2017; Arshad et al., 2009; Rehman et al., 2013; Javaid and Anjum 2006; Misra and Vir 1990; Rajappan et al., 2001; Ou, 1985). In India, the paddy crop succumbs to various diseases. Grain discolouration of paddy involves many mycoflora such as Alternaria padwickii, Alternaria longissima, Curvularia oryzae, C. lunata, Fusarium moniliforme,F. semitectum, F. oxysporum, F. solani, Pyricularia oryzae, Aspergillus niger and species of Phoma, Cercospora, Chaetomium, Penicillium, Myrothecium and Colletotrichum. Pre and post emergence death of seedlings caused due to the reduction of seed viability is due to grain discolouration caused by Bipolaris oryzae, M. grisea, Fusarium moniliforme, F. graminearum, S. oryzae, C. oryzae and Alternaria padwickii (Duraiswamy, 1982). Alternaria alternata and Curvularia lunata which causes ashy grey discolouration and black discolouration , with dark brown spots on seeds respectively are found mostly on coat of seed and endosperm region of seed (Sachan and Agrawal, 1995). Biological Forum – An International Journal 13(2): 507-515(2021)