Investigations on Seed-Borne Fungi Associated with Maize Varieties and Their Control

Maiz is one of the important crops being grown at Pakistan and worldwide. The study investigates seed-borne fungi in maize varieties and recommends fungicides and plant extracts for enhancing seed germination and plant health. Six different fungi were isolated from maize seeds, with Aspergillus niger being the predominant fungus, followed by Penicillium spp., Fusarium oxysporum, Curvularia lunata, Rhizopus oryzae, and Macrophomina phaseolina. Infected seeds showed reduced germination compared to healthy seeds, indicating the negative impact of seed-borne fungi on germination percentage. All six fungi were present in both the seed coat and endosperm, with slightly lower diversity observed in the embryo axis. Aspergillus niger was dominant in the seed coat, while Rhizopus oryzae and Macrophomina phaseolina were notably absent from the embryo axis. Carbendazim treatment showed effective results to minimize the disease, while Topsin M, Aliette, and Acrobat had intermediate effects compared to untreated controls. Neem extract was the most effective, followed by Datura, Nazboo, and Khabar. Carbendazim consistently had the most positive impact on plant height and weight. The untreated, uninoculated control exhibited the highest plant growth, emphasizing the negative impact of fungal inoculation. Neem extract consistently had the most positive impact on plant height and weight among plant extracts. The untreated, uninoculated control consistently had the highest values, indicating the absence of fungal inoculation positively influenced plant growth. Neem extract proved to be a promising alternative for managing seedborne fungi.