Abstract

To study most prevalent wheat seed-borne mycoflora and its effect on the nutritional value, freshly harvested three and six months old stored wheat grains were collected from various parts of Pakistan. For isolation of seed-borne fungi, agar plate method was found more effective as compared to standard blotter method. Alternaria alternata was found to be the most prevalent fungus. Chemical analysis of seeds clearly showed a decrease in the carbohydrate, fats and ash contents of stored wheat grains as compared to the freshly harvested seeds with no effect on total proteins. The growth of A. alternata on seeds during storage might have resulted in low nutritional contents.

Key words: Mycoflora, Alternaria alternata, seed-borne fungi, post-harvest storage, pathogens.