Impact of sugar factory effluent on mycoflora of seed and rhizosphere of Pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides)

Microorganisms play an important role in the growth and ecological fitness of their host. Seed and soil health are important in growing crop. Seeds of Pearl millet in different concentration of effluent (0, 10, 50 and 100 %) have been treated to study germination and mycoflora grown during germination. Increased seed mycoflora were found in 50% treatment ( Aspergillus niger , A. flavus, A. terreus, Penicillium verruculosum , Fusarium oxysporum , and Curvularia lunata ). Aspergillus flavus were common in 100 %, 10, %, and control (0%). Percent germination was 0 % in 100 % effluent treatment. Highest percent germination was reported in control (86%) followed by 10 % (48 %), and 50 % effluent treatment (24 %)). The rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere mycoflora of Pearl millet at different growth period (15, 30, 45, and 90 day) were studied with different concentration of sugar factory effluent, (0, 10,50 and 100 %) following serial dilution plate method, (Timonin, 1940). Species of Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium were very commonly isolated from the rhizosphere. The rhizosphere mycoflora was very high at flowering stage of plant growth i.e. the microbial population was increased with age of plant up to flowering stage then it was decreased. Qualitatively 16 fungal species were recorded from the rhizosphere and soil. It is seen that Aspergillus niger , A. flavus , A. fumigatus , A. nidulans , A. terreus , Alterneria sp., Penicillium funiculosum , Rhizoctonia bataticola, Rhzopus stolonifera were dominant both in the rhizosphere and soil. The species like Cladosporium oxysporum , A. ustu s, curvularia lunata , Helminthosprium sp., Mucor sp., Aspergillus acculeaus and Trichothecium sp. were occurred randomly. Results on an average basis indicated that Aspergillus niger , A. fumigatus, A. ustus , Curvularia lunata , Fusarium oxysporum , Mucor sp . Penicillium f uniculosum , and Trichothecium roseum appeared to be stimulated due to effluents whereas species like Aspergillus nidulans , Aspergillus terreus , Alterneria sp., Cladosporium oxysprum , Rhizopus s tolonifera , Torula sp., and Aspergillus acculeatus were found to be inhibited due to effluent treatment. The R/S ratio also corresponded to this.