Effect of seed-borne fungi on germination and seedling vigour of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus thumb)

Abstract

The effect of Mucor racemosus and Rhizopus nigricans inoculation (g and 0.1 g L -1 distilled water) and a seed dressing fungicide Seedplus® (1.25 g 0.5 kg -1 seeds) on germination and seedling vigour of watermelon (cv. Chaliston gray) was investigated. The experiment involved a complete randomized design (CRD) with three replicates. It was confirmed that the combined inocula with higher density caused significantly poor germination and low seedling vigour (P ≤ 0.05) than those seeds inoculated with lower inocula density. Higher germination percentage and seedling vigour were observed with single fungus inoculation than with the two fungi inoculation. Dressing of the fungi-infected seeds with Seedplus® 30 WS significantly improved germination percentage and seedling vigour of watermelon (P ≤ 0.05) but not as high as that of the control.