Abstract

QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF SEED MYCOFLORA DIVERSITY IN EUCALYPTUS TERETICORNIS AND E. CAMALDULENSIS

R. Y. Giri, T. Dinaker Chinna, T. Shankar, S. M. Reddy and Cherkupally Rama Raju*

Abstract

The present study investigates the seed mycoflora diversity of two important agroforestry species, Eucalyptus tereticornis and Eucalyptus camaldulensis. Using blotter and dilution plate techniques, a comprehensive assessment was conducted to identify the seed-borne fungi and their incidence, frequency, and abundance. A total of 31 fungal species belonging to 19 genera were isolated from E. tereticornis seeds, while 21 species representing 13 genera were detected from E. camaldulensis. Aspergillus flavus and A. niger were the most dominant fungi across both species, showing high incidence and frequency. Pathogenic fungi such as Fusarium spp., Sclerotium rolfsii, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and Curvularia lunata were also detected, highlighting potential risks to seedling health. The study underlines the variation in fungal detection based on isolation techniques and emphasizes the importance of both methods for a complete evaluation of seed mycoflora. The findings provide critical insights into the role of seed-borne fungi in forest tree health, germination, and disease transmission, especially in seed storage and nursery practices.

Keywords: Seed mycoflora, fungal diversity, blotter technique, dilution plate method, seed pathology, agroforestry.