Seed-borne mycoOora of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cullivar Giza 5 WI;II e
surveyed in 3 major Egyptian production areas. Seed health test of the collected
samples from Sharkyia. Ismailia and North Sinai revealed 18 seed-borne fungi. Major
pathogenic seed-borne fungi were tested for their pathogenicity after 15, 30 and 60
days of planting under greenhouse conditions. which proved that Rhizoctonia soiani
was the most serious pathogen affecting the healthy survival percentage. followed by
Macrophomina phaseolina. Fusarium so/anl and Sclerotium roJlsii. Fusarium
oxysporum was the least dangerous fungus in this respect. In greenhouse experiments, the blo-control agents Trichoderma harzianum
and BaciUus subliJis were experimented to control S. ro/fsii, F. oxysporum and M.
phaseo/ins using seed coat treatment combined with soil sterilization. Complete
elimination or the three pathogens was achieved when anyone of the two ole-control
agents was used as seed treatment under certain condluon of soil sterilization;
otherwise, different levels of control were recorded. Examining shells and seeds yield for the presence of the previously
concemed pathogens proved that controlling soil-borne inocula was very important
base line to accomplish complete conlrol of seed-borne mycofiora using biological
seed treatment.