University of Guilan Iranian Journal of Seed Sciences and Research 2476-3780 12 1 2025 03 21 Assessment of quality indicators of germination and early growth of forage pea seedling in response to the fungus causing Fusarium vascular wilt disease Assessment of quality indicators of germination and early growth of forage pea seedling in response to the fungus causing Fusarium vascular wilt disease 27 43 8803 10.22124/jms.2025.8803 FA Nima Khaledi Seed and Plant Certification and Registration Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran Mohamad Rahmani Researcher, Seed and Plant Certification and Registration Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran Farshid Hassani Seed and Plant Certification and Registration Institute, Allameh Jafari Blvd, Karaj, Alborz Province, Iran Leila Zare Seed and Plant Certification and Registration Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran Journal Article 2024 12 21 Seeds infection by Fusarium spp. fungus is one of the most important threats to seed quality and yield of agricultural crops, including forage pea. The aim of this research was to identify the seed-borne fungal agents of Fusarium vascular wilt from forage pea seed samples, to evaluate the effect of naturally infected seeds on some traits related to seed germination and early seedlings growth, and also investigate the process of infection transmission and the disease incidence in the next generation plant. In order to diagnose infection, from seed of different forage pea cultivars imported and produced in fields of the Kaleybar region of East Azerbaijan province were sampled according to the International Seed Testing Association rules (ISTA). Fungal isolates were identified based on morphological characteristics and species-specific primers. In total, seven fungal isolates were identified based on morphological characteristics and species-specific primers belonging to Fusarium oxysporum. The disease index level by pathogenic and low pathogenic isolates on forage pea seedlings were varied ranged from 53.50 ± 2.02% to 25.9 ± 0.75%. The results of the study of the infection transmission rate caused by the fungus F. oxysporum from seed to the next generation plant showed that the incidence of Fusarium vascular wilt disease were varied ranged from 0 and 2.17%. The results of this research showed that accurate prediction of the incidence of seed-borne disease is not easily possible due to lack of information about the pathogenicity level of fungal isolates and different levels of sensitivity of cultivars. The presence or absence of infection in the seed cannot determine the level of seed quality and seedlings health of forage pea, but rather it is the level of pathogenicity that affects the traits related to germination characteristics and early seedlings growth. Seeds infection by Fusarium spp. fungus is one of the most important threats to seed quality and yield of agricultural crops, including forage pea. The aim of this research was to identify the seed-borne fungal agents of Fusarium vascular wilt from forage pea seed samples, to evaluate the effect of naturally infected seeds on some traits related to seed germination and early seedlings growth, and also investigate the process of infection transmission and the disease incidence in the next generation plant. In order to diagnose infection, from seed of different forage pea cultivars imported and produced in fields of the Kaleybar region of East Azerbaijan province were sampled according to the International Seed Testing Association rules (ISTA). Fungal isolates were identified based on morphological characteristics and species-specific primers. In total, seven fungal isolates were identified based on morphological characteristics and species-specific primers belonging to Fusarium oxysporum. The disease index level by pathogenic and low pathogenic isolates on forage pea seedlings were varied ranged from 53.50 ± 2.02% to 25.9 ± 0.75%. The results of the study of the infection transmission rate caused by the fungus F. oxysporum from seed to the next generation plant showed that the incidence of Fusarium vascular wilt disease were varied ranged from 0 and 2.17%. The results of this research showed that accurate prediction of the incidence of seed-borne disease is not easily possible due to lack of information about the pathogenicity level of fungal isolates and different levels of sensitivity of cultivars. The presence or absence of infection in the seed cannot determine the level of seed quality and seedlings health of forage pea, but rather it is the level of pathogenicity that affects the traits related to germination characteristics and early seedlings growth.

https://jms.guilan.ac.ir/article_8803_193381c814bf74073ead4344ad5f3b2c.pdf