Table 2.
Pathogenicity of maize seed-borne fungal species isolated *.
| Fungus | Code | Preemergence Damping-Off (%) | Postemergence Damping-Off (%) | Survivals (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alternaria alternata | KSU4M1-1 | 20.00 ± 1.00 | 13.00 ± 1.00 | 67.00 ± 1.73 |
| Curvularia australiensis | KSU3M2-1 | 16.00 ± 1.15 | 11.00 ± 1.73 | 73.00 ± 2.52 |
| Curvularia lunata | KSU3M1-1 | 18.33 ± 2.08 | 12.33 ± 1.53 | 69.34 ± 2.52 |
| Fusarium chlamydosporum | KSU1M3-1 | 17.67 ± 2.52 | 10.33 ± 0.76 | 72.00 ± 2.18 |
| KSU1M3-2 | 9.330 ± 1.04 | 3.500 ± 0.50 | 87.17 ± 0.76 | |
| Fusarium incarnatum | KSU1M4-1 | 13.00 ± 1.00 | 9.17 ± 1.040 | 77.83 ± 0.76 |
| Fusarium proliferatum | KSU1M2-1 | 13.83 ± 1.23 | 7.33 ± 0.58 | 78.84 ± 0.76 |
| KSU1M2-2 | 22.00 ± 2.00 | 15.17 ± 1.26 | 62.83 ± 2.93 | |
| KSU1M2-3 | 20.83 ± 1.89 | 11.330 ± 1.32 | 68.17 ± 3.00 | |
| Fusarium verticillioides | KSU1M1-1 | 18.5 ± 0.50 | 12.83 ± 1.26 | 68.67 ± 1.15 |
| KSU1M1-2 | 23.67 ± 2.08 | 10.50 ± 0.50 | 65.83 ± 2.57 | |
| KSU1M1-3 | 29.17 ± 1.04 | 14.17 ± 1.76 | 56.67 ± 1.90 | |
| KSU1M1-4 | 17.67 ± 1.53 | 10.00 ± 1.00 | 72.33 ± 1.53 | |
| KSU1M1-5 | 13.33 ± 1.53 | 8.830 ± 0.29 | 77.83 ± 1.61 | |
| Sarocladium strictum | KSU2M1-1 | 9.000 ± 1.00 | 7.000 ± 1.00 | 84.00 ± 1.73 |
| KSU2M1-2 | 13.67 ± 1.53 | 8.83 ± 0.29 | 77.50 ± 1.80 | |
| Sarocladium zeae | KSU2M2-1 | 23.00 ± 4.36 | 17.0 ± 3.00 | 60.00 ± 7.21 |
| KSU2M2-2 | 20.33 ± 3.21 | 14.0 ± 1.73 | 65.67 ± 2.52 | |
| Control (without infection) | 3.330 ± 0.58 | 0.670 ± 0.58 | 96.00 ± 1.00 | |
* Eighteen seed-borne fungal isolates were tested for their pathogenicity following a soil infestation method with fungus growing on a sterilized sorghum–sand medium (1:1) at 20% moisture for 10 d at 25 ± 2 °C. Pots (20-cm in diam.) stuffed with disinfected soil were individually infested with the fungal inocula at 0.4% (w/w), well-mixed, and regularly irrigated with tap water and left for one week before planting. In each pot, 10 surface-sterilized maize seeds were sown. For each fungus, 15 replicates (pots) were employed. All pots were organized in a completely randomized way and saved for 45 days in a greenhouse. The pots were noted daily for seed germination, and the disease occurrence was recorded. Each value is the mean of 15 pots (replicates), values within a column are followed by the mean ± standard deviation. Preemergence damping-off = seed/seedling death before emergence. Postemergence damping-off = seedling mortality after emergence. Survival = living plants 45 days after planting.