Abstract

                                Eight Aspergillus spp. viz., A. flavus. A. niger. A. terreus, A. fumigatus, striatus, A. nidulans, A. tamarii and A. japonicus were isolated from the soil and the effect of spore suspensions and culture filtrates on seed germination and seedling growt of paddy, groundnut and cotton were studied. The germination of paddy seeds treate with A. flavus, A. terreus, A. nidulans and A. tamarii was 15 to 38 per cent lower thai the control. However, spore suspensions and culture filtrates of A. niger, A. terreus, A striatus and A. japonicus did not markedly affect the seed germination of groundnut an cotton and also caused post-emergence rotting. Interestingly, the seedling growth wa stimulated to different degrees by the spore supspensions as well as the culture filtrate of the eight species of Aspergilli in one or more of the three crop species studied.

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