HEALTH AND QUALITY OF JUTE SEED AND CONTROL OF SEEDBORNE PATHOGENS

Abstract

Seeds of 11 Jute varieties were collected from Bangladesh Jute Research Institute, Nashipur Centre, Dinajpur and Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), Dinajpur for health status, germination percentage and seed borne pathogen and to investigate the possibility of using plant extracts as seed treatment. The seed sample was tested following dry inspection and blotter incubation method. Maximum apparently healthy seeds (99.00%) with the higher germination 96.00% were recorded from Cop-CVE-3 variety. Different seed-borne fungi such as, Colletotrichum corchori, Botryodiplodia theobromae, Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium spp., Rhizopus stolinifer and Curvularia lunata were found associated with the jute seeds. Prevalence of different fungi varied in different varieties of jute seeds. Percent germination and percent seed borne infection of fungal pathogens were different with treatment of different plant extracts and chemical (Provex 200WP). Provex 200WP @ 0.25% of seed was found effective in controlling fungal infection and increasing germination percentage up to 96.00% in the varieties Cop-CVE-3, BJC-7370, Tossa O-795 and Tossa O-72. Garlic extract was found effective resulting 96.00% germination in Cop-CVE-3 followed by BJC-7370, Tossa O-795, Tossa Bina Patshak and Tossa O-9875 (89.33%). Allamanda extract @ 2:1 conc. reduced the highest fungal infection compared to its Tossa O-795 variety and Tossa O-9875 variety whereas Tossa Bina Patshak variety had the lowest percentage of fungal infection over its Cop-CVE-3 variety and Tossa O-9875 variety with untreated. Using Cop-CVE-3 variety and garlic extract can be recommended to increase health status and germination ability of jute seeds to avoid seed borne pathogen for safe environment.