CTION O SEED H OF HEALTH IN CERE EALS BAS SED ON PREDIC SE EED DETE ERIORAT TING FAC CTORS A AND THEI IR MANAGEME ENT

Abstract

Poaceae, the cereals is one of the most important plant families, which have the potential to provide readily available protein and cheap carbohydrates than any other food commodity for both animals and human consumption. The growing third world population and its domestic animals need more cost-effective protein and carbohydrates which, although in abundance in many developing countries, are under-utilized. In Pakistan widely cultivated cereal crops are wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) rice (Oryza sativa L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) while barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), millet (Pennisetum typhoides [(Burm.) Staff. & Hub.)], oats (Avena sativa L.), sorghum (Sorghum vulgare L.) and rye (Secale cereale L.), are the minor cereals. Many fungi are serious parasites of seed primordia, maturing and stored seeds or grains. Fungal contamination of three stored cereals varied with type of host, storage duration and conditions. The fungi isolated from different seed sources of three hosts through blotter paper, agar plate and deep freezing methods. Both pathogenic fungi including species of Alternaria, Bipolaris, Fusarium, Helminthosporium, Macrophomina, Drechslera, Pyricularia and Nigrospora and saprophytic fungi like species of Aspergillus, Absidia, Chaetomium, Curvularia, Epicoccum, Monilia, Mucor, Penicillium and Rhizopus were predominant. During storage period, the germination percentage recorded as 91% at the temperature (Temp.) of 21.9°C with relative humidity (RH) of storage at 53.5%. The germination percentage gradually decreased as the duration of storage prolonged even the RH value slightly changed but temperature value (28.5°C) rose significantly. Change in temperature and relative humidity had no significant influence on the critical values of seed vigour, it slightly affects seed vigour at the temperature ranging 22-41 °C and RH ranging 35-65%. Moisture level of stored wheat, rice and maize significantly increased and became more than twice (23.5, 26.5 and 26%) respectively than its starting level (11%) after 135-140 days of storage duration. The level of protein, carbohydrates, fats and crude fiber content of these cereals exhibited slight changes but no significant under the four different environmental conditions during storage. Among the Aspergillus isolates from wheat maximum level of aflatoxins were recorded from Aspergillus parasiticus as 745-783 of AFB1, 17.24-87.36 of AFG1 followed by AFB2 (49.57-137.03) and AFG2 in low quantities (26.5 -67.42 ng/g ). During the management trials involving seed coating with plant extracts and essential oils, the maximum seed germination percentage (77.33, 75, 69 and 69%) was obtained in the case of neem treated seeds in all storage durations (0, 60,120 and 180 days respectively) as compared with negative control (53.33%) and other treatments. This trend line recorded similar as the storage duration prolonged upto 60, 120 and 180 days.