MYCOFLORA ASSOCIATED WITH LENTIL (LENS CULINARIS L.) SEEDS OF PAKISTAN

Twenty one seed samples of lentil (Lens culinaris L.) collected from various localities of Pakistan viz., Karachi (12), Sukkur (1), Swabi (1), Mardan (2), Ghazi (1), Wah (1), Faisalabad (1), Lahore(1) and Hub(1) were analyzed for the detection of seed-borne mycoflora using standard blotter, agar-plate and deep-freezing methods as suggested by ISTA. Total number of 42 fungal species belonging to 18 genera were isolated. Of these 8 fungal species viz., Absidia corymbifera, Actinomucor elegans, Chrysosporium pannorum, Myrothecium cinctum, Oidiodendron truncatum, Scopulariopsis acremonium, Trichoderma hamatum and T. polysporum are new reports from Pakistan on lentil seeds. Of the three methods used, agar plate method was found to be better for the isolation of fungi from lentil seeds. Surface disinfection by 1% Ca(OCl)2 reduced the incidence of Aspergillus spp.