Distribution of Seed-borne fungi on Rice Seeds Affecting Rice Grain Qualify

Seed-borne fungal pathogens on rice seeds were investigated in order to evaluate their effect on rice grain quality. Rice seeds of two cultivars, Ilmibyeo and Daesanbyeo were collected from 27 areas of Korea and the fungal parasites on seeds were isolated by using a blotter method. Isolation frequency and number of species were varied from collection areas of seed samples. A total 13 species of fungi were identified from the seeds. Among them, Altemana alternata was the most frequent over the country. Bipoiaris oryzae most commonly from Gyeongbuk and Jeonbuk, Alternaria padwickii from Jeonbuk, and Nigrospora oryzae from Choongnam. However Bipolaris. oryzae, Alternaria padwickii, and Nigrospora oryzae were the most frequently isolated fungi from Gyeongbuk and Jeonbuk, and Chungnam, respectively. B. oryzae, A. alternata, A. padwickii, and N. oryzae were dominants on Ilmibyeo showing 10.3％, 10.2％, 5.2％, and 5.2％ infection rate, respectively. While, N. oryzae, A alternata, and Cladosporium sp. were most frequently isolated fungi from Deasanbyeo revealing 15.1％, 9.6％, and 7.5％ infection rate, respectively. These fungi inhabiting on hulls or endosperms of rice seed might be considered as potential factors decreasing rice grain quality. Further investigation of the fungi on grain rice quality are undergoing.