VIEW ARTICLE

Invasion by Storage Fungi of Rough Rice in Commercial Storage and in the Laboratory. H. A. Fanse, Former Research Assistant, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55101; C. M. Christensen, Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55101. Phytopathology 60:228-231. Accepted for publication 2 September 1969. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-60-228.

As judged by germinability and degree of invasion by storage fungi, most of the 80 samples of rough rice from commercial storage, and nearly all those of Grade No. 1, were in good condition. Seventeen of the 80 samples yielded storage fungi from 50% or more of the surface-disinfected kernels, but germination of most of these samples exceeded 90%, indicating that the invasion by storage fungi probably was superficial. Seeds of a few samples were so heavily invaded by storage fungi or so low in germinability, or both, as to be considered of poor storability. Seed-grade rice of the cultivar Blue-bonnet with moisture contents of 12.0, 14.0, and 16.0% was not reduced in germinability when kept at 5ºC for 465 days, although there was some increase in invasion by storage fungi in the samples with 16% moisture. Samples stored for 465 days with an initial moisture content of 14.0% and at 5 and 15ºC remained unchanged. In the samples stored at 25 and 31ºC with different moisture contents, decrease in germinability and increase in storage fungi were proportional to increasing time of storage and increasing moisture content. Sodium propionate applied to rough rice in concentrations of 2,200, 3,200, 4,200, and 5,000 ppm did not prevent increase of storage fungi when these were inoculated onto the seeds, but did result in death of the seeds.