Fungi associated with seeds of eastern white pine and white spruce during cone processing and seed extraction
Using standard moist-blotter and potato-dextrose-agar tests, 13 species of fungi were isolated from seeds and cone scales of Pinusstrobus and 17 species from Piceaglauca. Most fungi were common to both hosts but varied considerably in prevalence on seeds during cone processing and seed extraction. Alternariaalternata, Aureobasidiumpullulans, Cladosporiumcladosporoides, C. herbarum, Fusariumsporotrichioides, Mucorhiemalis, Penicilliumaurantiogriseum, and Rhizopusnigricans were associated with more seeds than other species identified. In closed cones on trees the seeds were usually free from fungi that developed and spread during cone processing and seed extraction. Seeds extracted from cones that were kept on the forest floor showed more fungal contamination than those brought to the laboratory immediately after collection. Seed moisture content gradually decreased, while germination increased between cone collection and final seed conditioning.