Progress in research on the seed-borne fungi of forage in China

Seed-borne fungi can seriously affect the quality of forage seeds and is among the main factors limiting forage production. In this paper, methods used to isolate and detect seed-borne fungi in China in recent years are summarized and their different characteristics are described. The results of recent studies of fungi isolated from forage species and the pathogenicity of various fungi are reviewed. Currently, 50 genera of seed-borne fungi were isolated from 12 species of herbage. The pathogenic effects of seed-borne pathogenic fungi mainly included reducing the seed germination rate, inhibiting seedling growth, and reducing seedling biomass. The different conditions affecting seed-borne fungi under different environmental conditions, storage times, and seed parts are summarized. Finally, common seed treatment methods for effectively preventing and controlling seed-borne pathogenic fungi are summarized, and the different control effects were introduced. Suggestions are also provided for further studies on seed-borne fungi.