Back to Contents

Pak. J. Bot., 44(3): 1167-1170, 2012.

FREE FULL TEXT PDF

DEVELOPMENT OF A Na-ALGINATE-BASED BIOFORMULATION AND ITS USE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF CHARCOAL ROT OF SUNFLOWER (HELIANTHUS ANNUUS  L.)

MUHAMMAD ANIS, M. JAVED ZAKI^* AND SHAHNAZ DAWAR

Abstract: The treatment of sunflower seeds with Na-alginate in combination with Ca-carbonate and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) showed maximum increase in plant length and weight followed by seed coated with Na-alginate in combination with Ca-carbonate and gum arabic. Maximum control of Macrophomina phaseolina infection was recorded when seeds were coated with Na-alginate in combination with Ca-carbonate and gum arabic followed by Na-alginate in combination with Ca-carbonate and CMC. In another experiment when sunflower seeds were coated with Na-alginate at 1, 2 and 4% w/w with or without Trichoderma viride, T. resei, significant increase in germination was recorded when seeds were coated with Trichoderma species using Na alginate at different concentrations as a sticker. Plant length and weight was significantly higher in treated seeds as compared to non treated control. Seeds coated with T. viride using 2% Na-alginate as a sticker showed maximum increase in plant length and weight followed by seed coated with T. viride in combination with 1% Na-alginate. Maximum vigor index were observed in sunflower seeds treated with T. viridi using 2% Na-alginate.

Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan

^*Corresponding author e-mail: zakijaved@yahoo.com