Nima Khaledi - Seed and Plant Certification and Registration Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) is one of the most important and economical medicinal plants. Seed-borne fungi as one of the most important factors that threatens the health of seeds, and lead to reduce germination and vigor indices and finally reduce production. The aim of this study was to identify of seed-borne fungi of cumin from some cumin fields in Iran. In order to identify of seed-borne fungi cumin from fields of Mashhad, Quchan and Fariman was sampled according to the International Rules for Seed Testing (ISTA). For isolation of fungi, cumin seeds were washed in tap water surface disinfested in ۱% sodium hypochlorite and were placed on general and specific culture media with alternating ۱۲ hours light and ۱۲ hours darkness at ۲۵°C. Purification of fungal colonies was performed using single spore and hyphal tip methods on ۲% water agar medium. A total of ۴۵ isolates were identified based on morphological and molecular characteristics (ITS-rDNA regions were amplified by ITS۱ and ITS۴ primers and a partial sequence of the β-tubulin gene, different fungal taxa including Alternaria alternata, A. burnsii, Fusarium oxysporum and F. solani. Overall the highest frequency of isolated fungi was related to the genus Alternaria. Among the species identified, A. alternata was the predominant species with the highest isolation frequency and relative density of ۱۰۰% and ۶۶.۷% respectively. The cumin seeds collected from Mashhad field was more infected with fungi than the other fields sampled.

Seed, Morphological, Seed health, Molecular