SEED HEALTH STATUS OF COMMONLY USED THREE SELECTED HYBRID MAIZE VARIETIES IN BANGLADESH

Abstract

Experiment was conducted to know the seed health status of three selected hybrid maize varieties viz. Dekalb, Miracal and NK-40 during the period July- 2013 to August-2014 at the Department of Plant Pathology, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Seed health study was conducted following blotter method, water agar test tube method and rolled paper towel method. It was revealed that seeds of selected maize varieties yielded three fungal species in blloter method. The fungi were Aspergillus flavus (7.42% in NK-40, 5.95% in Miracal and 2.24% in Dekalb), Aspergillus niger (7.32% in NK-40, 6.98% in Miracal and 4.22% in Dekalb) and Fusarium moniliforme (5.75% in NK-40, 4.42% in Miracal and 3.42% in Dekalb). In seedling symptoms test by water agar test tube method and seedling vigor index test by rolled paper towel method, maize variety Dekalb showed good performance in terms of minimum number of diseased seedlings (15.26%) and dead seed (2.00%) and maximum germination (97.25%) and showed the highest vigor index (1437) while the variety NK-40 showed poor performance regarding all parameters used. So, most of the seed-borne pathogens reduced the germination and produced diseased seedlings. Farmers are therefore, advised to collect the seeds from reliable source and check their maize seed health status before sowing in the field.