Transmission of Microdochium albescens from seeds to seedlings in the pre-germinated cultivation system of irrigated rice

ABSTRACT: The fungus Microdochium albescens is one of the main pathogens associated with irrigated rice seeds in southern Brazil. The objective of the present study was to quantify the transmission of M. albescens from naturally infected seeds to the crown, coleoptile, and first true leaf of the seedlings of six cultivars growing in pre-germinated cultivation system of irrigated rice. Seeding was carried out on a water-saturated substrate, using four untreated seed lots for each of the six cultivars. At 14 days after sowing, the crown, coleoptile, and first true leaf of the seedlings were carefully highlighted, and the samples were disinfected and plated onto potato-sucrose-agar culture medium. M. albescens was transmitted asymptomatically to crown, coleoptile, and first true leaf, at rates of 39.3%, 25.8%, and 5.4%, respectively (these values represent the average incidence of the six cultivars). This is the first report that proves that M. albescens is transmitted from infected seeds to irrigated rice seedlings in a pre-germinated seed system.