Incubation period and fungi identification in seeds of Salvia hispânica L.

Abstract

Seed sanitary quality is an essential factor in crop success, and through the evaluation of fungi contamination of seeds, measures can be adopted to control and avoid the transferability of this contamination to the plants. Equally important is the method used to verify the occurrence and identify the species, especially when it comes to crops that have not yet been studied, such as chia, which has a mucilaginous layer that may present some interference in the development of fungi. This study's objective was to identify the genera of fungi present in lots of saved chia seeds, define the best period for their evaluation and its transmissibility to the plantlet. Eight lots from saved seeds of chia were analyzed into two evaluations at seven and 14 days of incubation via the Blotter test method, in which fungi were identified by their reproductive structure using a stereomicroscope. Besides, the transmissibility rate from seed to plantlet of the most incident fungus was evaluated, through the direct isolation method. All estimated seed lots of chia showed fungi contamination, with emphasis on Fusarium sp., Phomopsis sp., Penicillium sp., and Aspergillus sp. The best evaluation period to Phomopsis sp. its at 14 days of incubation by the Blotter test method. The genus Fusarium sp. presents a high transmissibility rate from seed to plantlet.