Maize seed storage mycoflora in Pakistan and its chemical control

Eleven seed-borne fungal species were recorded in the 18 maize seed samples collected from 6 maize growing districts of punjab and khyber-pakhtoonkhwa,pakistan. aspergillus flavus,a. niger and fusarium moniliforme were the most prevalent species with the incidence range up to 94,62 & 43%,respectively. maximum number of fungal species i.e.,10 was observed from okara,sahiwal and nowshehra,9 from mansehra,whereas 8 were recorded from mardan and pakpattan samples. a comparative study was designed to evaluate eight fungicides to control maize seed mycoflora at the rate of 2.0,2.5,3.0 and 3.5 g kg-1. benlate followed by thiophanate methyl and thiram provided the maximum fungal control at the dose of 3 and 3.5 g kg-1. maximum germination percentage was attained in case of seed dressing with benlate followed by thiram and thiophanate methyl at the rate of 3g kg-1,which revealed benlate to be a broad spectrum seed dressing fungicide with no adverse effect on germination.