This study was carried out to investigate the effects of 7-day-old fungal
filtrates of
Aspergillus niger
and
Penicillium chrysogenum
isolated from maize seeds on
percentage germination, morphological and anatomical structures of maize seedlings. The
seeds were soaked in culture filtrate of each fungus for 12hrs before planting. Blotter method
was used to observe seed germination. Results showed that the percentage germination of the
seeds treated with culture filtrates of
A. niger and
P. chrysogenum (65.33% and 79.67%
respectively) was lower than the control (100%) and significantly different from each other at
significant level of P ≥0.05. The leaf area showed significant difference between the
experimental and control plants but there was no significant difference in the leaf number.
The tetracytic stomatal complex type and wavy anticlinal walls remained constant in all the
treatments and control. The stomatal index of seed treated with
A. niger on abaxial leaf
surface (43.61%) showed significant difference with adaxial leaf surface (31.97%). The
treatments had no significant difference on stomatal density at abaxial surfaces. Reduction in
stomatal size and density suggests physiological implication.
