Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Seed-borne mycoflora of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in the Riyadh Region of Saudi Arabia

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Annals of Microbiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Fifteen seed samples of local alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivar (Hegazy) collected from fields at different governorates of the Riyadh region in Saudi Arabia were screened for their seed-borne mycoflora. Standard moist blotter and deep-freezing blotter methods recommended by the International Seed Testing Association, in addition to an innovative alkaline seed-bed method were applied. A total of 24 genera and 35 species of fungi were isolated using the above-mentioned techniques. Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium sp., Aspergillus sp., Stemphylium sp. and Penicillium sp. were the genera most commonly isolated. Among the various techniques adopted for detection, the alkaline NaOH method was found to be effective and yielded the maximum number of pathogenic fungi. Syndromes of seed discoloration were also investigated. The alkaline seed-bed method using NaOH was used to detect saprophytic and pathogenic seed-borne fungi associated with discolored seeds. A total of 15 genera and 26 species of fungi were isolated. Cladosporium sp., Alternaria alternata and Aspergillus species were the saprophytic species detected most, while Stemphylium botryosum and Fusarium incarnatum were common pathogenic fungi found on discolored seeds. The average of incidence and occurrence percentages of most detected fungi were higher in discolored seeds than in normal seeds. Seed germination was also affected significantly by discoloration. The data also indicate that seed discoloration decreases seed germination significantly (by 26.3–60%).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2a,b

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdel-Aziz RA, Al-Barakah FN, Al-Asmary HM (2008) Genetic identification and symbiotic efficiency of Sinorhizobium meliloti indigenous to Saudi Arabian soils. Afr J Biotechnol 7:2803–2809

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Abo-Ellil HA (1999a) A new alkaline α-amylase from the facultative alkalophile Verticillium lateritium. Pak J Biol Sci 2:301–304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abo-Ellil HA (1999b) Comparative biochemical studies on Penicillium albicans (Alkalosensitive) and Verticillium lateritium (Facultative Alkalophile). Pak J Biol Sci 2:290–295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aboughania A, Faraj S (1978) Survey of seed-borne fungi in Libyan jamahriah. Libyan J Agric 7:105–108

    Google Scholar 

  • Abul-Hayja ZM, Al-Hazmi AS, Trabulsi IY (1983) A preliminary survey of plant diseases in Al-Kharj region, Saudi Arabia. Phytopathol Mediterr 22:65–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Kassim MY, Monawar MN (2000) Seed-borne fungi of some vegetable seeds in Gazan Province and their chemical control. Saudi J Biol Sci 7(2):179–185

    Google Scholar 

  • Barbetti MJ (1995) Relative resistance, associated yield losses and phyto-oestrogen production from fungal foliar diseases in new and old annual Medicago cultivars. Aust J Agric Res 46:441–450

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Booth C (1977) The genus Fusarium. Commonwealth Mycological Institute, Kew, Surrey, England

    Google Scholar 

  • Burrges LW, Liddell CM, Summerell BA (1988) Laboratory manual for Fusarium research. Incorporating a key and descriptions of common species found in Australasia (2nd edn). University of Sydney Press, Sydney, Australia

  • Campbell CL, Madden LV (1990) Introduction to plant disease epidemiology. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Chidambaram P, Mathur SB, Neergaard P (1973) Identification of seed borne Drechslera species. Friesia 10:165–207

    Google Scholar 

  • Christensen CM (1967) Germinability of seeds free and invaded by storage fungi. Proc Assoc Off Seed Anal Proc 57:141–143

    Google Scholar 

  • CoStat (2005) Cohort Software. Monterey, CA

  • Dawar S (1994) Studied on the seed-borne fungi associated with sunflower. PhD Thesis, Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Pakistan

  • Domsch KW, Gams W, Anderson TH (1980) Compendium of soil fungi, vol 1. Academic, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis MB (1971) Dematiaceous hyphomycetes. CMI, Kew

    Google Scholar 

  • Elwakil MA, Ghoneem KM (2002) An improved method of seed health testing for detecting the lurked seed-borne fungi of fenugreek. Pak J Plant Pathol 1:11–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher NL, Burgess LW, Toussoun TA, Nelson PE (1982) Carnation leaves as a substrate and for preserving cultures of Fusarium species. Phytopathology 72:151–153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gai JY, Xu DH, Gao Z, Shimamoto Y, Abe J, Fukushi H, Kitajima S (2000) Studies on the evolutionary relationship among eco-types of G. max and G. soja in China (in Chinese). Acta Agron Sinica 26:513–520

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghoneem KM, Saber WIA, Elwakil MA (2009) Alkaline seed-bed: an innovative technique for manifesting Verticillium dahliae on fennel seeds. Plant Pathol J 8(1):22–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guan J, Nutter FW (2002) Relationships between defoliation, leaf area index, canopy reflectance, and forage yield in the alfalfa-leaf spot pathosystem. Comput Electron Agric 37:97–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horikoshi K, Akiba T (1982) Alkalophilic microorganisms, A new microbial world. Japan Scientific/Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • International Seed Testing Association (1999) International rules for seed testing. Seed Sci Technol 24:1–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Mathur SB, Manandhar HK (2003) Fungi in seeds. The Danish Government Institute of Seed Pathology for Developing Countries, Copenhagen

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrison MJ, Pietrzak LN, Voldeng HD (1998) Soybean seed coat discoloration in cool season climates. Agron J 90:471–474

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nath R, Neergaard P, Mathur SB (1970) Identification of Fusarium species as they occurred in the blotter test. Proc Int Seed Test Assoc 35:121–144

    Google Scholar 

  • Neergaard P (1979) Seed pathology. MacMillan, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Nutter FW, Guan JR, Gotlieb AR, Rhodes LH, Grau CR, Sule RM (2002) Quantifying alfalfa yield losses caused by foliar diseses in Lowa, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Vermont. Plant Dis 86:269–277

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raper KE, Fennel DI (1965) The genus Aspergillus. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore

    Google Scholar 

  • Scudamore KA, Livesey CT (1998) Occurrence and significance of mycotoxins in forage crops and silage: a review. J Sci Food Agric 77:1–17

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shafie AE, Webster JA (1981) Asurvey of seed-borne fungi of Sorghum bicolor from the Sudan. Trans Br Mycol Soc 77:339–342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sime AD, Abbott SP (2002) Mounting medium for use in indoor air quality sporetrap analyses. Mycologia 94:1087–1088

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stuteville LD, Erwin DC (1990) Compendium of alfalfa diseases. APS, St Paul

    Google Scholar 

  • Sultana N, Ghaffar A (2009) Seed-borne fungi associated with bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl. Pak J Bot 41(1):435–442

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to King Saud University, as represented by the Research Center—Teacher College, for funding this research. Our deep gratitude is extended to Prof. Mohamed A. Elwakil (Plant Pathology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, El-Mansoura University, El-Mansoura, Egypt) and Prof. Wesam I.A. Saber (Microbiology Department, Soils, Water, Environment Research Instititute, Agriculture Research Center, Giza, Egypt) for their sincere help.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biology Department, Teachers College, King Saud University, Riaydh, Saudi Arabia

    Abdul-Aziz A. Al-Askar & Younes M. Rashad

  2. Department of Seed Pathology Research, Plant Pathology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt

    Khalid M. Ghoneem

Authors
  1. Abdul-Aziz A. Al-Askar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Khalid M. Ghoneem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Younes M. Rashad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Younes M. Rashad.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Al-Askar, AA.A., Ghoneem, K.M. & Rashad, Y.M. Seed-borne mycoflora of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in the Riyadh Region of Saudi Arabia. Ann Microbiol 62, 273–281 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13213-011-0257-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13213-011-0257-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation