• M. Jayashree
• Dr. E.G. Wesely

Sorghum is considered as one of the major cereal crop and staple food as well for millions of the poorest and most food in secure people in many part of the world. The production and consumption of sorghum is constrained by several factors, the most important among which are seed-borne fungal species. In addition to causing quantitative losses, these spoilage fungi produce highly toxic and carcinogenic mycotoxins. In view of the negative public health and economic impacts of fungi producing mycotoxins associated with sorghum grains, this study, aimed at exploring and investigating on presence of pathogenic fungi associated with seeds in samples of sorghum collected from the fields of Dharmapuri, Namakkal and Salem districts, during the months of November – December in the year 2018. The fungi samples were isolated by PDA method and specimens were identified on the basis of colony characteristics and microscopic examinations. The results obtained revealed that irrespective of source of seed samples, the association of seed-borne fungi with sorghum grains appears to be a prevalent situation. The most prevailing seed borne fungi recorded were Aspergillus species followed by Penicillium & Mucor species. This study reveals that the spoilage-pathogen free health, seed is critically needed for desired crop production and consumption.

Sorghum, seed-borne fungi, isolation, mycotoxins, production, consumption.

"DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF SEED-BORNE FUNGI OF SORGHUM IN SELECTED DISTRICTS OF TAMIL NADU", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 3, page no.176-178, March-2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIRAD06027.pdf

"DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF SEED-BORNE FUNGI OF SORGHUM IN SELECTED DISTRICTS OF TAMIL NADU", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 3, page no. pp176-178, March-2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIRAD06027.pdf