Determination of the seed borne fungi on wheat grown in Isparta province

The aim of this study was, to determine the seed borne fungi on wheat seed samples grown in Isparta province. For this purpose, a total of 30 seed samples of 8 different varieties were obtained from all districts of Isparta where wheat cultivation has been performed. Fungi on the seed samples were determined according to I.S.T.A. procedures by using blotter, agar, deep freezing blotter, seed washing and embryo extraction methods. As a result of the study, 22 species belonging to 15 different genera were determined from the seed samples. The most common fungus species as a result of blotter, agar and deep freezing blotter methods were; Alternaria, Cladosporium, Aspergillus and Nigrospora. Botrysporium sp., Curvularia spp., Drechslera spp., Epicoccumnigrum, Fusarium spp., Penicillum sp., Rhizopus stolonifer, Stemphylium herbarum, Sordaria fimicola, Ulocladium atrum and Verticillium sp. fungi were also isolated. From a seed sapmles belonging to Gerek-79 cultivar taken from Yalvaç district, Curvularia prasadi was isolated by deep freezing method, it way a first report for Turkey. Tilletia spp. ustilospores were determined on 43% of the 30 seed samples, which were examined by seed washing method. Wheat smut agent was not found in the embriyos of any of the seed samples examined by embryo extraction method.