Rice ( Oryza sativa L.) is one of the major food crops of the world. Due to lack of awareness, the farmers do not distinguish the seed from grain and hence the quality of farmers saved seed remains below standard. This seed carries microflora which play an important role in reducing the seed viability. Among seed microflora, fungal load on the seed is very important. In this study, seed samples of different varieties of paddy were collected from farmers in different villages of Haryana from 2002 to 2012. The seed was subjected to seed health test by blotter technique and observed under stereo-binocular microscope to assess its fungal load. The per cent germination and vigour index were also evaluated by paper towel method. A total of 30 fungi belonging to different groups were recorded from the samples of farmers? saved seed. Alternaria padwickii (28.52%), Curvularia lunata (22.67%), Alternaria alternata (10.51%), Rhizopus stolonifer (8.96%), Aspergillus flavus (8.26%) and Fusarium moniliforme (7.15%) were recorded as major fungi associated with the seed. However, in breeder seed of different paddy varieties grown at this station, only 22 fungal species belonging to different groups were recorded. Out of which Alternaria padwickii (10.62%), Curvularia lunata (7.35%), Alternaria alternata (6.54%), Aspergillus flavus (6.07%) and Rhizopus stolonifer (5.21%) were recorded as the major fungi associated with this seed. Average per cent germination and vigour of farmers? saved seed of different paddy varieties was significantly lower than the breeder seed of different varieties of paddy grown at this station.
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