Effect of toxigenic Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxins on seed quality parameters of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.

The Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxins are known to be detrimental to plant and animals<br />affecting their productivity and yield. This study evaluated effects of toxigenic A. flavus and<br />aflatoxins on physical parameters like seed germination, seedling vigor, root length, shoot length<br />and also biochemical parameters like chlorophyll content, protein, sugars and amylase activity in<br />sorghum seeds. The sorghum seeds were treated with 100, 250 and 500 μg ml-1 concentrations of<br />aflatoxins and likewise, A. flavus spore suspension adjusted to 1x108 spores ml-1 were also<br />treated to seeds in different treatments. The experimental results revealed maximum inhibition of<br />seed germination, seedling vigor, chlorophyll, proteins, total sugars and α-amylase activity in the<br />sorghum seedlings was observed at 500 μg ml-1 followed by 250 and 100 μg ml-1. But seed<br />treatment with toxigenic A. flavus spore suspension showed slight inhibition all the above<br />parameters tested when compared to untreated control, but there was no significant decrease was<br />observed. The study highlighted negative effects of the A. flavus and aflatoxins on the tested seed<br />quality parameters tested there by necessitating need of monitoring of toxigenic fungi and their<br />metabolites in sorghum seeds.