Milk thistle, Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn., is known as an edible and medicinal plant applied in traditional medicine, and its seed is used in the production of medicines against liver hyperglycemia. Seed-born fungi may cause plant diseases and produce mycotoxins that are dangerous for animal and human health. Hence, the external and internal fungal infection of milk thistle seeds from six genotypes from six different geographic areas were studied through a deep-freeze blotter test. Alternaria alternata was the most prevalent fungus. Other seed-borne fungi belonging to the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, and Rhizopus were also observed. In addition, highly meaningful differences in the frequency of A. alternata were found among seed samples. These findings are not only important in Plant Pathology and Plant Breeding but also in Pharmacy.
Alternaria, cardus, mycotoxin, seedborne
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