Fungal Flora of Barley Seeds in Saudi Arabia and Its Control

Abstract

Twenty-nine species of fungi were isolated from normal and discolored seeds of barley. More species were isolated from discolored seeds and percentage of occurrence of individual fungi was higher in nondisinfected seeds as compared to disinfected seeds. The most common genera found were Ulocladium (four species); Alternaria, Aspergillus, and Drechslera (three species); Curvularia, Fusarium, Mucor, Penicillium, and Syncephalastrum (two species). Diathane was found to be most effective among fungicides tested.

Mold spectrum of four cereal brands of the German crop 1995

“…Besides a reduction in seed viability and vigor the growth of these fungi may also cause a discoloration of the seeds. Because of their proteolytic character plant pathogens can develop and spread in the plant [2]. Furthermore, moulds of the genera Fusarium, Alternaria and Cladosporium are well known mycotoxin producers on cereal grains [3,4, 51. For the reasons given above it is essential to know which fungi contribute to the mycoflora of grain samples.…”