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International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) supplies seeds of sorghum, pearl millet, pigeonpea, chickpea, and groundnut for research globally. The export of seeds of these crops is channelized through the regional station of the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. However, the tests for quarantine clearance of seeds for export are done at the Export Certification Laboratory at the ICRISAT Center.

During the period from June 1989 to December 1997, ICRISAT exported 371,818 samples of its mandate crops to 136 countries. The largest number of exported samples were of sorghum (140,143) followed by chickpea (119,308). A total of 1786 samples (sorghum, 571; pearl millet, IM pigeonpea, 311; chickpea, 199; Groundnut, 585) were detained due to heavy seed infection by fungi and/or bacteria (> 80% seed infection). Pigeonpea appeared to be the most popular crop exported to 105 countries followed by sorghum (91 countries) and groundnut (88 countries). A total of 182 fungal spp. belonging to 71 genera were recorded. Largest number of fungi-132 fungal species across the years, were found associated with sorghum crop. The corresponding figures for pearl millet, chickpea, pigeonpea, and groundnut were 94, 91, 96, and 60, respectively. Aspergillus spp. were more on pulses and groundnut than on sorghum and pearl millet; however, Curvularia spp, showed the reverse trend. Fusarium and Alternaria spp. occurred most frequently on pigeonpea followed by on sorghum. Also, there was a total absence of three graminicolous fungi - Dreschlera, Biopolaris and Exserohilum spp. on groundnut. There were 31 fungi associated with all the five crops. Aspergillus niger (3.8%) and Cladosporium spp. (3.6%) were the most commonly occurring fungi being most predominant on groundnut and sorghum, respectively.