Evaluation of mycoflora associated with Indian red rice landraces in Himachal Pradesh, India

Seed mycoflora poses significant challenges to rice production, leading to substantial economic losses. Red rice seed samples of seven Indian landraces, Chohartu, Deval, Gosha, Jattu, Karad 21‐1, Karad 21‐3 and Matali, were collected from different districts of Himachal Pradesh, India. The presence of mycoflora associated with seed-borne fungi and their impact on seed health were evaluated using two methods: agar plate method and blotter paper method. A total of nine fungal species including Fusarium sp., Bipolaris oryzae , Alternaria padwickii , Curvularia lunata , Sarocladium oryzae , Trichoderma sp., Rhizoctonia solani , Rhizopus stolonifera and Aspergillus niger were isolated, identified and morphologically characterised based on colony growth, mycelial features, conidial structures and spores. The highest seed infections were recorded with Fusarium spp., Curvularia lunata and Bipolaris oryzae and the least with Alternaria padwickii and Rhizoctonia solani . Seeds showed that the fungi had a variable effect on seed quality parameters like seed germination, shoot length, root length and seedling vigour index. It was observed that the ‘Matali’ landrace showed the most detrimental effects on all these parameters. Hence, this study underscores the requirement of thorough seed examination to reduce the effects of seed mycoflora associated with red rice seeds, which could affect rice production.