Abstract

The kernels of the bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars Flamura 85, Katia, Pehlivan and Sana from farmer fields of Tekirdağ province in 2000 and 2001 were analyzed to identify the fungi associated with the black point disease. Fungi in the embryos, endosperms and seed coats of the kernels (healthy and black pointed) separately, were determined by plating them on agar medium. The same cultivars were used to test the effect of black point on emergence at day five and ten, and seedling vigour (length of shoot, dry weight of roots and shoots) in pot experiments. Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keisler was the dominant fungus in black pointed kernels for both years and isolated from the endosperm and seed coat especially, but present at low level. None of the fungi from black pointed kernels were isolated from healthy kernels. Black point delayed seedling emergence from the kernels of 2000. However the reduction in seedling vigour was significantly higher in the affected kernels of 2001. High rainfall during the anthesis and milk stages in 2000 and 2001, respectively contributed to delayed maturity of the crop and had probably an impact on black point infection.