Jour Pl Sci Res 30 (2) 131-134 2014

Efficacy of Biocidal Seed Treatment against Seed Borne Alternaria alternata

Associated with Radish (Raphanus sativus) Seeds.

Paru Panwar, R.P. Ghasolia and Rekha Kumawat

Department of Plant Pathology, S.K.N.College of Agriculture (S.K.N. University of Agriculture) Jobner

(Jaipur) Rajasthan -303329.

E-mail: rekha.kumawat25@gmail.com

Radish (Raphanus sativus Linn.) is a very popular root–crop throughout India. It is a quick growing
crop. It is easily grown as a companion crop or other crop between rows of other vegetables. Seed
borne Alternaria alternata reduce seed quality and quantity in terms of both chemical composition
and weight. Different plant part extracts and bioagents were used as seed treatment against seed
borne Alternaria alternata in vitro. Maximum percent seed germination (75.00 percent) was observed
in seed treated with leaf extract of Oak followed by Datura (73.75%) and Neem (73.00%) with vigour
index (581.25, 744.87 and 781.10) by reducing pre- (0.00,0.00 and 7.45) and post- emergence mortality
(0.00, 0.00 and 6.25). Trichoderma viride proved to be most effective in improving percent seed
germination (69.00%) and in pre-and post-emergence mortality (6.75 and 8.00). Vigour index was
higher in seed treated with Pseudomonas fluorescence (603.90).
Keywords: Biocidal, Seed borne, Alternaria alternata, Radish.

INTRODUCTION comparisons to fungicides. Biocides improve the

Radish (Raphanus sativus Linn.) commonly known
as mooli is one of the most important vegetable root
crop of Rabi session belong to family cruciferous.
Radishes are very useful as intercrops or companion
planting between rows or plants of slower growth. It
is grown for its fleshy edible roots which are eaten
raw or as salad or cooked. The fruits of radish are
also cooked as vegetables. Radish tops are cooked as
leafy vegetables and are very rich in minerals and
vitamins A and C.
Seeds play a vital role in the production of healthy
crop. They are carrier of many important seed borne
pathogens inciting various diseases which considerable
losses in the yield.
Seed born Alternaria alternata causes several losses
both in quality and quantity. Seed treatments with
biocides (plant leaf extracts and bioagents) have
reported to be cheapest, easiest and safest control
method of plant diseases during establishment and
development of a crop to increase productivity in
storage life and quality of harvested plants and produce.
MATERIALS AND METHOD
Six samples of radish seeds were collected from
farmer’s house situated in nearby area of Jobner vicinity.
Four hundred seeds of each of the sample were selected
at random were analyzed. Blotting papers were cut
into circles of 10 cm diameter and sterilized at 15 psi
for 15 minutes, after sterilization three circles of blotting
papers were placed at the bottom of sterilized
Petriplates aseptically and moistened by sterilized
distilled water. Apparently healthy surface sterilized
seeds of severally contaminated sample of radish were
artificially contaminated with pathogenic A. alternata
and then such contaminated seeds were treated
(Dressing/ soaking) separately with different plant
leaf extract (Aak, Datura, Mahendi and Neem) and
bioagents (Aspergillus niger, Pseudomonas
fluorescens, Trichoderma harzianum and
Trichoderma viride). Seeds were placed at an equal
distance in each sterilized Petriplate. These Petriplates
132 Paru Panwar, R.P. Ghasolia and Rekha Kumawat

Table 1. Effect of plant leaf extract seed treatment against Alternaria alternata on seed germination, pre- and post emergence
mortality and vigour index (in vitro)

S. Treatments Concentration Percent Per cent mortality Root* Shoot* Vigour

No. germination Pre - Post - length length index
emergence emergence (cm) (cm)
1. Aak (Calotropis 5.0ml/10g 75.00 0.00 0.00 3.75 4.00 581.25
zizensia) (60.00) (0.00) (0.00)
2. Datura (Datura 5.0ml/10g 73.75 0.00 0.00
stramonium) (59.15) (0.00) (0.00) 4.90 5.20 744.87
3. Mahendi (Lawsonia 5.0ml/10g 62.00 8.75 9.00
inermis) (51.35) (17.16) (16.43) 4.25 5.00 573.50
4. Neem (Azadirachta 5.0ml/10g 73.00 7.45 6.25
indica) (58.82) (15.79) (14.42) 5.75 4.95 781.10
5. Tulsi (Ocimum 5.0ml/10g 68.00 12.50 3.25
sanctum) (55.55) (20.70) (10.31) 3.00 2.25 357.00
6. Control - 60.00 20.00 15.23
(50.77) (26.56) (22.95) 2.50 2.00 270.00
SEm+ - 1.16 0.52 0.60 - - 8.86
C.D. at 5% - 2.92 1.31 1.53 - - 22.32

* Average based on 10 seedlings

Figures given in parentheses are angular transformed values

were incubated at 22°+ 1°C with 12 hours of light and
alternating with 12 hrs of dark period. Inoculated
untreated seeds were used as control. The seeds with
emanating fungal colonies were examined on 3rd to 7th
day of incubation. Seedling vigour index was calculated
by following formula suggested by Abdul-Baki and
Anderson (1973).
Seedling vigour index = Germination % X
(Root length + shoot length).
RESULT
Plant extract
A perusal of data presented in Table 1 revealed that
seed treated with leaf extracts of all the plant tested
gave significantly higher per cent of seed germination
ranges from 62.00 to 75.00 per cent in comparison to
control (60.00%). Maximum per cent seed germination
was observed in seed treated with leaf extract of Aak
(75.00%) followed by Datura (73.75%) and Neem
(73.00%).
Leaf extract of Aak and Datura proved to be effective
as no pre- and post emergence mortality were observed
in seed treated with these two leaf extracts. Neem
and Tulsi leaf extract proved to less effective as they
have less pre- emergence mortality (7.45%/ 12.50%)
and post emergence mortality (6.25%, 3.25%) in
comparison to control (20.00%/ 15.23%) respectively.
Maximum vigour index was observed in seed treated
with Neem (781.10) followed by Datura (744.87) while
it was minimum in control (270.00). Statistically no
significant difference was observed in vigour index of
Neem and Datura leaf extract treated seeds.
Bioagents
Results of bioagents seed treatments against seed borne
Alternaria alternata in Table 2 indicated that maximum
per cent seed germination (69.00%) was recorded in
Trichoderma viride treated seeds followed by
Trichoderma harzianum (67.00%). Trichoderma
viride and T. harzianum bioagents treated seeds
significantly increased the seed germination while seed

The Journal of Plant Science Research

 Efficacy of Biocidal Seed Treatment against Seed Borne Alternaria alternata Associated with
133
Radish (Raphanus sativus) Seeds.
Table 2 Effect of bioagents seed treatment against Alternaria alternata on seed germination, pre-and post emergence mortality
and vigour index (in vitro)

S. Treatments Concentration Percent Per cent mortality Root* Shoot* Vigour

No. germination Pre - Post - length length index
emergence emergence (cm) (cm)
1. Aspergillus niger 5.0ml (108 cfu.ml)/ 62.00 12.00 11.00 3.00 2.00 310.00
10g seeds (51.35) (19.92) (19.29)
2. P. flourescens 5.0ml (108 cfu.ml)/ 66.00 8.00 9.00 3.90 5.25 603.90
10g seeds (54.35) (16.41) (17.41)
3. T. harzianum 5.0ml (108 cfu.ml)/ 67.00 8.25 10.00 3.25 3.00 418.75
10g seeds (54.94) (16.64) (18.44)
4. Trichoderma viride 5.0ml (10 cfu.ml)/
8
(56.17) (15.00) (16.43) 3.75 3.50 572.75
10g seeds 69.00 6.75 8.00
5. Control - 62.00 15.00 13.00 2.75 1.95 291.40
(51.35) (22.79) (21.13)
SEm+ - 1.13 0.58 0.44 - - 7.61
C.D. at 5% - 2.84 1.48 1.11 - - 19.18

* Average based on 10 seedlings

Figures given in parentheses are angular transformed values

treated with Aspergillus niger (62.00%) and
Pseudomonas fluorescens (66.00%) reduced the seed
germination in comparisons to control (62.00%).
Trichoderma viride and T. harzianum bioagents were
significantly superior in reducing pre- and post
emergence mortality over control. Maximum reduction
in pre- and post emergence mortality was observed in
T. viride (6.75%/ 8.00%) followed by T. harzianum
(8.25%/10.00%) while it was minimum in Aspergillus
niger bioagent treated seeds (12.00%/11.00%) in
comparison to control (15.00%/13.00%), respectively.
The vigour index observed to significantly higher in seed
treated with Pseudomonas flourescens (603.90) and
Trichoderma viride (525.25) in comparison to
T. harzianum (418.75) and Aspergillus niger (310.00).
Minimum vigour index was observed in control (291.40)
and significant difference was also observed in vigour
index observed in seed treated with P. fluorescens
and T. viride in comparison to control.
Discussion
Seed treatment with different biocides (bioagents and
plant leaf extracts) has reported to be safest in
comparison to fungicides. Several biocides have been
reported to increase seed germination and vigour index
by reducing the pre- and post emergence mortality in
several crops including radish (Sivan and Chet, 1986;
Farzana and Ghaffar, 1991 and Kaur Mukhopadhyay,
1992). Amongst seeds soaked in different plant leaf
extracts, Aak leaf extract followed by Datura leaf
extract found to be most effective against seed borne
Alternaria alternata in improving seed germination
and vigour index by reducing pre- and post emergence
mortality and number of seedling showing symptoms.
Extract of different parts of plants also reported to be
effective in inhibiting the radial growth of Alternaria
alternata (causing fruit rot in chilli and damping off
brinjal) by Bagri et al., 2004 and Jacob and
Sivaprakasam, 1994. Trichoderma viride followed by
Trichoderma harzianum found to most effective
against seed borne Alternaria alternata in improving
seed germination and vigour index by reducing pre-
and post emergence mortality and number of seedling
showing symptoms. Seed treatment with Aspergillus
niger- V isolate, Bacillus subtilis, Chaetomium
globsum, Gliocladium virens, Pseudomonas
fluorescens, Ralstonia fluorescens, Trichoderma
hamatum, T. harzianum, T. koningii, T. virens and T.
viride have been reported to give good control of

The Journal of Plant Science Research

134 Paru Panwar, R.P. Ghasolia and Rekha Kumawat
associated pathogenic fungi with radish, brinjal, chilli,
blackgram and sesamum seeds, respectively (Pandey
and Pandey, 2005 Babu et al., 2000 and Jeyalakshmi
and Seetharaman, 1998). P. fluorescens also reported
to be enhance the percent germination of tomato
against Alternaria solani tested in vitro (Babu et al.,
2000).
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