Storage fungi and seed health of rice: a study in the Philippines

Fifty seed samples of different rice varieties stored in warehouses for varying periods (1-28 months) were collected and screened for their fungal flora, using standard blotter and agar plate methods, resulting in the isolation of 36 fungal forms. The samples were also studied for moisture content, germinability, and seedling abnormalities. Significant correlations were found among the numbers of fungi, storage period, and germinability. Fourteen samples, seven each of IR64 and IR66 were studied with regard to moisture content, germination test, abnormal seedlings, speed of germination, conductance of leachates, total dehydrogenase activity, total free amino acids, total soluble sugar, fat acidity, gelatinization temperature, gel consistency, amylose content, translucency, and per cent whiteness. Significant relationships were found between the fungi and the parameters studied.