Management of seed mycofiora was studied by different seed treatment methods viz., physical, chemical and biological methods. By physical methods, seeds treated with hot water at 45°C for 25 and 30 min. and at 50°C for 10,15,20,25 and 30 minutes reduced seed mycofiora, but adversely affected seed germination. However, maximum seed germination was recorded when seeds were treated at 40°C for 30 minutes and this treatment also reduced seed mycofiora effectively. In dry heat treatment, seed treatmentat 50°C for one hour effectively reduced the seed mycofiora, but adversely affected seed germination. However, dry Heat treatment at 40°C for one hour reduced the seed mycofiora without affecting seed germination. In solar heat treatment, seeds exposed to solar heat treatment at 12-14 h on terrace effectively reduced the seed mycofiora followed by 13-15 h, 14-16 h, 12-13 h, 13-14 h, 14-15 h and 15-16 h. Seed treatment with fungicides viz., carbendazim, thiophanate methyl, captan, mancozeb and chlorothalonil at the rate of 2 and 3 g per kg of seed effectively eliminated seed mycofiora. The maximum seed germination of 90 per cent was recorded when seeds were treated with carbendazim @ 2 and 3 g per kg of seed. In seed treatment with bioagents viz., Trichoderma viride, T. harzianum, P. fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis, seed mycofiora was significantly reduced when maize seeds were treated with T. harzianum and T. viride at 6 g per kg of seed, whereas maximum seed germination of 92 per cent was recorded when seeds were treated with T. viride and P. fluorescens at 6 g per kg of seed.
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