Dear Ewa, The use of grow out in conditions favorable for fungal growth can show kernel infections. The use of cellulose pads which are moistened and placed at high humidity and appropriate temperature is effective. When kernels are surface disinfected and then plated in laboratory medium fungal growth can be identified off the colony characteristics and the fungal morphology. Ideally the use of PCR can be used in conjunction to double confirm the fungal identity. In addition diagnosis can be confirmed with Enzyme Linked Immuno Assay techniques. It is best to use multiple techniques to get the most reliable and confirmed result. Your information can be shared with mycologist or fungal specialists to help confirm also.

Thank you

Detection of Fungal-Damaged Kernels Using Colour and NIR Hyperspectral Imaging

Thank you

The infected seeds are generally of low weight and density. The use of blowers, sieves and gravity tables can remove the low weight and density seeds which many times have higher levels of infections. The use of vicous systems can float those seeds which are less dense where most infections reside. The seedlots will high levels can be discarded and tests can define levels which can be considered adequate for healthy plantings. This concept is using disease certification to complement the germination and vigor testing.

Paul Reed Hepperly

Very useful comment. Thank you

Please take a look at this:

The fungal pigments can be imparted into infected kernels and seeds. Fusarium infections are noted by pink red salmon purple and blue discoloration. In soybean Cercospora kikuchii gives a purple discoloration from cercosorin pigment. Soybean seeds infected with Phomopsis have a misshapen aspect become fissured and take on dull grey appearance. In small grains the ergot sclerotia are very characteristic and some small grains with smut fungi take on distinctive fish odors. Some aflatoxin producing Aspergillus with blue green autofluoresence under black near UV lights.

We must firstly isolate the fungi associated with cereal kernels by using many methods such as blotter method, dilution method , direct plate method and moist chamber method. Then we can identify the isolated fungi, so the pink color indicates to Fusarium infected, black color indicates to Curvularia or Bipolaris, purpule color indicates to Cercospora... etc.

Yehya A. Salih

Thank you for your answer. Could you explain what is the blotter method? Or could you provide a reference?

Dear Ewa,,

Blotter method :

We prepare glass plate (15 cm diameter) or any large plate, put filter papers in it, the filter papers soaked with distilled water, then the seeds washed carefully with distilled water and sterilized with NaOCH 10% from trade solution for 3 minutes, then they washed with distilled water to remove the sterelization residues, then the seeds were put in the plates and incubated at room temperature or in incubator for many days with daily examination. Finally the grown fungi purified on PDA, PCA or MEA to identify them by using compound microscope.

With regards.

Dear Yehya A. Salih

Thank you very much. Your comments are very useful.

You most welcome dear Ewa Ropelewska.

I hope you have more scientific progress.

With best wishes.

Dr. Yehya A. Salih

Dear Ewa..

Good morning,, I am sorry I mean NaOCl (Sodium Hypochlorite). Please correct NaOCH to NaOCl or NaClO.

With highly apologizing.