The Fungal Flora of Groundnut Kernels in Malawi and the Effect of Seed-Dressing

Abstract

Isolations from groundnut kernels in Malawi showed Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Mucorales, Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium spp. and Penicillium spp. to be the most common members of the fungal flora. In the laboratory a seed-dressing containing thiram had a strong inhibiting effect on the kernel flora with the exception of A. flavus, although it was able to afford some protection to healthy kernels against A. flavus attack in soil in test tubes. When grown individually in plate cultures the most commonly isolated fungi were generally only slightly inhibited by thiram in the agar. Field trials over three seasons showed that dressing the seed with fungicide had little effect on yield and this practice is thus not generally recommended.