Identification and pathogenicity of Fusarium species isolated from maize seeds collected from the district Sialkot

• Published in: Pure and applied biology Vol. 14; no. 2; pp. 249 - 257
• Main Author: Batool, Andliba
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Quetta International Society of Pure and Applied Biology 10.06.2025
• Subjects: Agar; Agricultural research; Corn; Crop yield; Disinfectants; Filtrate; Flowers & plants; Freezing; Fungi; Fusarium; Fusarium graminearum; Fusarium oxysporum; Germination; Identification; Marketability; Methods; Morphology; Pathogenicity; Pathogens; Plant diseases; Seedlings; Seeds; Species; Sustainable agriculture
• ISSN: 2304-2478; 2304-2478
• DOI: 10.19045/bspab.2025.140023

Fusarium species significantly affect the quality and marketability of maize (Zea mays L.), which are responsible for quality and quantity losses on a commercial scale. This study aimed to identify morphologically and check the pathogenicity of Fusarium species isolated from maize seeds widely grown in the district Sialkot. A total of 25 maize kernel samples were obtained from five tehsils of district Sialkot and subjected to the isolation of Fusarium species by agar plate method, blotting paper method, and deep-freezing methods from both surface disinfected seeds and non-disinfected seeds. About five Fusarium species viz, Fusarium oxysporum (F1), Fusarium solani (F2), Fusarium verticillioides (F3), Fusarium culmorum (F4), and Fusarium graminearum (F5), were isolated based on morphological identification. Whereas the most frequent isolate was identified as F1. Its isolate was more pathogenic than F2 and control. Moreover, its cultural filtrate also showed the lowest germination (10%) and vigor index (5) of maize seedlings. The results of this study indicate that the most significant method for the isolation of Fusarium was the agar plate method, which showed the highest infection rate of 2 - 15 % from samples collected from tehsil Pasrur. This isolation and morphological identification of the linked Fusarium with maize will be helpful for the molecular identification of Fusarium species in future research. For sustainable agriculture, this study will aid in controlling seed-borne pathogens to minimize crop yield losses.