MYCOFLORA ASSOCIATED WITH GRAM POD BORER AFFECTED CHICKPEA

摘要

The association of gram pod borer (GPB), Helicoverpa armigera Hübner with chickpeas disease causing fungi has not been reported. Thus, present studies were conducted during the year 2015 and 2016 at Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan. The results pertaining to GPB affected seeds and seed shells, larva and adults moth of H. armigera revealed the association of 65 different fungal strains belonging to 17 different genera. The specific genera and species were confirmed through molecular characterization using ITS region of rDNA of fungi blasted in NCBI database. Out of 65 strains; 20 strains found associated with GPB affected seed, 07 with seed shell, 09 with live larva; whereas 16 with dead larva, and 13 with moth. Significantly (P <0.05 = 0.0000) highest frequency was recorded for A. alternata (64.20 and 19.40) followed by Chaetomium sp. (38.20 and 0.00), A. tenuissima (36.70 and 0.00), C. lunata (32.70), Drechslera sp. (31.70 and 0.00) and L. theobroae (31.20 and 9.40) and F. oxysporum (0.00 and 6.90) from GPB affected seed of 2015 and 2016. In case of seed shell highest frequency percent was recorded for A. niger (55.90 and 30.70) followed by A. flavus (52.80 and 11.90) and A. alternata (35.90 and 21.90), when isolated through agar plate and blotter paper method, respectively. Significantly higher frequency was recorded for A. flavus (20.40) followed by A. niger (9.40), A. alternata (8.40) and Penicillium sp. (7.40) from un-treated larvae. Whereas, from treated larvae Fusarium sp. (10.40) followed C. lunata (5.40). In case of dead larvae (unsterilized), higher frequency was recorded for A. alterna (25.40) followed by A. fumigatus (15.40) and A. niger (14.40). Whereas, from surface sterilized larvae, A. alterna (13.40) followed by Fusarium sp. (12.20) and B. bassiana (6.40) were isolated with higher frequency. From adult moth (un-sterilized), higher frequency was recorded for A. alternata (43.20) followed by Paecilomycete (36.20) and A. niger (34.20) and T. virens (13.20). Whereas, the frequency of other fungi associated with adult moth (Surface sterilized) was lower that ranged from 0 to 11.50. These results indicate the relationship of these pathogens with chickpea diseases and GPB. In addition, the influence of GPB in dissemination and/or providing possible entry to these pathogenic fungi for complex disease development cannot be ignored.