EFFECT OF FUSARIUM CULTURE FILTRATE C.F. ON SEED GERMINATION, ROOTSHOOT LENGTH AND SEED VIGOR

Fusarium species are important phytopathogens known to produce an array of toxic metabolites that adversely affect seed germination and early seedling growth. The present study investigates the effect of different Fusarium species culture filtrate on seed germination, root–shoot length and Seed Vigor in the selected test crop i.e. Chickpea, Soyabean and Pigeon pea. The culture filtrates of Fusarium spp. were prepared from actively growing Fusarium cultures and applied to seeds under controlled laboratory conditions. Seeds treated with culture filtrate exhibited a significant decline in germination percentage compared to the control. Moreover, marked reductions in both root and shoot lengths were observed, indicating the strong inhibitory potential of metabolites released by Fusarium species. The severity of inhibition increased with increasing concentrations of the culture filtrate, confirming a dose-dependent phytotoxic response. These findings highlight the detrimental impact of Fusarium-derived metabolites on early plant growth and underscore their role in disease development and seedling mortality. The study provides useful insights for understanding host–pathogen interactions and for developing effective management strategies against Fusarium-induced seed and seedling infections.