Incidence of Tilletia species in non-processed seed of Triticum aestivum in Vojvodina, Serbia

Abstract

With the growing importance of organic production and resurgence of bunt fungi in organic farming conditions, the present study was undertaken to determine incidence and contamination level of Tilletia species in conventionally produced non-processed seed of wheat in Vojvodina. Analysis of 151 samples of basic, certified and commercial seed revealed that 129 samples were contaminated with Tilletia species. The predominant species was T. caries, which was found in 127 samples. However, teliospores of Tilletia species, which have not been registered in Serbia before, were found in five samples. These teliospores had a prominent gelatinous sheath together with conspicuous, deep reticulation and it was assumed that some of them might be of the quarantined T. contraversa, whilst others were identified as T. bromi. Contamination level of basic and certified seed was about one teliospore per 10 seeds, while four out of 16 commercial seed samples were contaminated with more than 900 teliospores per seed which exceeds the allowed contamination level.