Abstract
Concerns about the health, safety and environmental effects of agricultural
chemicals in our water, soil and food, a compelling reason to use biological
controls. Under the above circumstances, the present research programme was
undertaken. Seeds of 24 varieties of vegetables were collected from three major
vegetable growing areas of Bangladesh. Quality status and health status were studied
during January 2016 to December 2018. A total of nine treatments were applied.
Moisture percentage, Purity percentage, Germination percentage, Seedling vigor and
incidence percentage of seed borne fungi were recorded. The moisture content ranged
from 11.40 to 15.06%, where the highest moisture contentwas found in Indian Spinach
variety Vs(Monisha) and the lowest was recorded in Brinjal variety Vs (Laboni). The
apparently healthy seed ranged from 52.5 to 87.0%, where the highest apparently
healthy seed was recorded in Cabbage variety V22 (Agradut) and the lowest was found
in Okra variety V10 (BARI Dherosh-2). Seed germination varied 75 to 97%, where the
highest percent of germinated seed were recorded in Cabbage variety V22 (Agradut)
and Carrot variety V24 (Kuroda) in treated with Ts (Trichoderma harzianum) and the
lowest percent was found in Country Bean variety V16 (BARI Sheem-4) and Bottle
Gourd variety V20 (Khet lau-2) in control To (Control treatment). The normal seedlings
varied from 56 to 91%, where the highest percent of normal seedlings were recorded in
Cabbage variety V22 (Agradut) and lowest percent was found in Country Bean variety
V16 (BARI Sheem-4). The dead seeds ranged from 7 to 25%, where the highest percent
of dead seeds were recorded in Bottle Gourd variety V20 (Khet lau-2) and lowest was
found in Cabbage variety V22 (Agradut). Altogether 12 fungi were found associated
with the seeds which were Rhizopus spp, Fusarium moniliforme, Fusarium oxysporum,
Fusarium solani, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium spp., Alternaria solani,
Alternaria tenuis, Alternaria alternate, Curvularia lunata and Colletotrichum spp.. The
highest total seed borne fungal infection (60.5%) was found in Tomato variety V3
(Ratan) and the lowest (14.5%) was found in Cabbage variety V22 (Agradut). Incidence
of Rhizopus spp. was recorded 0.0% to 8.5%; Fusarium moniliforme 0.0% to 15.5%;
Fusarium oxysporum 0.0% to 13.5%; Fusarium solani 0.0% to 11.0%; Aspergillus niger 0.0%
to 11.0%; Aspergillus flavus 2.5% to 10.0%; Penicillium spp. 0.0% to 8.5%; Alternaria solani
0.0 to 10.0%, Alternaria tenuis 0.0% to 11.0%; Alternaria alternata 0.0% to 9.5%; Curvularia
lunata 0.0% to 10.5% and Colletotrichum spp. 0.0 to 11.0%, respectively. Among the
vegetable seeds varieties, seedling vigor ranged from 1320.3 to 1966.2% where the
lowest seedling vigor (1320.3%) was observed in Tomato variety V3 (Ratan) and the
highest (1966.2%) was in Indian spinach variety V13 (Pusti). Among the treatments,
performance of Ts (Trichoderma harzianum) resulted the lowest seed-borne fungal
infections with higher germination and seedling vigor followed by T6 (Trichoderma
viride), Ts (Provax), T7 (Mixed plant extracts), T1 (Garlic extract), T2 (Ginger extract),
T3 (Neem extract) and T4 (Datura extract) over To (Control treatment). Based on the findings of the present study, it may be concluded that Trichoderma spp. can
successfully be used for eco-friendly management of seed-borne fungal disease of
vegetable for obtaining higher yield by avoiding toxic chemicals.