Effect of Seed Moisture on The Abundance of Penicillium implicatum Associated with Chestnut- Leaved Oak (Quercus castaneifolia) Seed in Golestan Forests

The saprophyte fungi such as Penicillium are common microorganisms on Oak seed that have negative effects on germination. for isolation and identification species of Penicillium associated with Chestnut-leaved oak (Quercus castaneifolia) seed and investigation the effect of moisture on its frequency, during in autumn 2007 four sampling at any region was selected in Gorgan province including: Shast-Kalate, Ghorogh, Loveh and Golestan forest. For isolation of fungus of seed, cultured on potato dextrose agar medium and Penicillium implicatum was identified. The result indicated that the most seed moisture percent and frequency of fungus was in Shast-Kalate and the lowest was in Golestan. Considering the results of statistical analysis using Pearson Correlation Coefficient significant relation exist between moisture and frequency of P. implicatum (α <0.01). Thus the increase frequency of fungus to raise of the moisture.