STUDY ON THE SEED HEALTH STATUS OF RED AMARANTH AND SPINACH

Seed health status of red amaranth and spinach collected from eight different seed sources under three seed categories was determined in the Seed Pathology Centre (SPC), Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. On seed health analysis, 6 fungi encountered in seeds of Red amaranth, in order of prevalence, were- F. moniliforme (18.1%), Penicillium spp. (5.8%), A. flavus (5.5%), A. niger (4.9%), R. stolonifer (3.7%) and Colletotrichum capsici (0.9%). Six fungi recorded in Spinach seeds, in order of prevalence, were- F. moniliforme (39.4%), A. flavus (8.5%), A. niger (3.9%), R. stolonifer (3.1%) Penicillium spp. (2.9%), and Colletotrichum spinaciae (0.5%). A. niger, F. moniliforme, R. stolonifer in red amaranth and spinach appeared to be new records in the seed-borne fungi of the selected four vegetable crops in the world. In general, more seed-borne fungal pathogens were recorded in Farmers’ seed, followed by seeds of Seed companies and BADC. Seed germination recorded in growing-ontest also varied significantly depending on seed category and seed source. The highest germination was obtained in seeds of BADC, followed by Seed companies, while the lowest germination was recorded in Farmers’ seed. Germination failure was always higher than the total seedborne fungal infections in red amaranth and in spinach. Thus, no definite relationship between germination failure and total seed-borne fungal infection was observed. Of all the 6 fungi recorded in seeds of the selected vegetable crops, only F. moniliforme was found to caused seedling disease (Foot and root rot) in the growing-on test.