Prevalence of fungi associated with seeds of three cotton varieties (Gossypium arboreum L.) in storage

Twelve species of fungi were isolated from the seeds of three cotton varieties (HC-1, HC-2 and HC-3) following “Tissue planting” and “Blotter” methods. The isolated fungi were Aspergillus flavus Link, A. fumigatus Fresenius, A. niger van Tieghem (Type-I), A. niger van Tieghem (Type-II), Chaetomium globosum Kunze ex Fr., Curvularia lunata (Wakker) Boedijn, Fusarium moniliforme var. subglutinans Wr. & Reink, Fusarium sporotrichioides Sherb., Mem., Penicillium Link, Pestalotiopsis guepinii (Desm.) Stay., Rhizoctonia solani J.G. Kuhn, Rhizopus stolonifer (Ehrenb.: Fr.) Vuill. and Trichoderma viride Pers. Association of fungi with cotton seeds was recorded at 30, 90 and 120 days of storage. The fungal associations were varied with duration of storage periods. Aspergillus niger (Type-I), A. niger (Type-II) and Rhizoctonia solani were predominant fungi. Fusarium sporotrichioides is a new record for Bangladesh.