THE EFFECT OF FUNGICIDES ON THE VIABILITY OF FABA SEEDLINGS

Faba bean seeds of 25% moisture content were treated with fungicides ( benomyl, carbendazim and thiophanate-methyl), inoculated with spores o f Fusarium moniliforme, and stored at 80% relative humidity and two te mperatures (10 and 25 degrees C). The fungicides significantly increas ed the viability and seedling respiration of infected seeds stored at 10 degrees C for up 3 months. They also, promoted the degradation of p olysaccharides and insoluble protein with accumulation of free amino a cids and soluble protein. On the contrary, the fungicides at 25 degree s C suppressed germination and CO2 evolution after 1 month of seed sto rage. They also, impaired the degradation of storage polysaccharides a nd insoluble protein.