DOI: 10.36347/sjavs.2018.v05i03.004

Pages: 148-155

In Côte d'Ivoire, cotton cultivation faces many constraints including the thorny issue of quality seeds for meeting the challenge of optimal yield. In order to contribute to the achievement of this goal, we investigated the health and germination of cotton varieties used in west central region of Côte d’Ivoire. The cotton seed samples were collected from 10 farmers. Samples comprised 3 varieties which were grouped for laboratory and field analyses including Purity analysis, moisture content test, germination test and the seed borne mycoflora investigation. The result show maximum pure seed (95%) was found in cotton seed samples with a moisture content of 10 %. Cotton seeds of the 3 varieties had very low germination (<30%), highest number of dead seed (27% - 95%) and abnormal seedlings (1 - 51 %) in the laboratory and in the experimental plot. Thereafter, seeds treatment with Thiram + Imidacloprid helped raise the germination rate to more than 70%. Six fungal genera were associated with the 3 cotton seed samples. The genera were Aspergillus, Fusarium. Curvularia, Rhizophus, macrophomina and Paecilomyces. These fungi might be responsible for the deterioration in seed affecting germination and could be involved in seedling blight observed on the experimental field. Using certified seed free from pathogens and disease is essential for successful cotton cultivation in Côte d'Ivoire.