A Study on Fungal Deterioration of Seed and Damping off in Oroxylum indicum and their Control

Heavy loss of seeds in Oroxylum indicum due to fungal detrioration while seeds Were still on the tree was recorded in the forests in and around Burnihat, Assam. The loss was to the extent of 52% within a period of about two to three weeks after pre-monsoon rains in April. The moulds, Aspergilli and Penicillia of which the latter were predominants were associattd with seed deterioration and they colonized the seeds and damaged them completely after partially opened pods were drenched with rain water. Limely exraction of seed from the pods by mid- March before the onset of rains is advisable to prevent fungal deteriorationl Further seed dressing with ceresan is recommended to prevent fungal deterioration during storage and loss in germinal ion percentage. Advancing the Sowing time by a forenight i.e in the early port of the second week March or middle of March obviated seedling mortality due to damping off by Fusarium solani. Seed germinafion was best at a depth of O.5 cm.