Use of bio-fungicidal extracts in managing seed-borne fungi for improved maize (zea mays L.) seed germination in Morogoro
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Date
2021
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important crop in Tanzania for food, feed and source of
household income. Recently, farmers reported the decline in maize productivity due to
poor maize seed germination. The problem was linked to seed-borne fungal which have
not been extensively studied in Tanzania. This study aimed at identifying the prevalent
seed-borne fungi and developing a suitable bio-fungicide formulation for management of
seed-borne. Certified and farmer-saved seeds were the matrix from which fungi were
isolated and identified. Deep freezing blotter method was used to grow fungi. Thereafter,
the produced fungal colonies were examined under microscope. On the management side,
neem (Azadirachta indica), ginger (Zingiber officinale) and coffee (Coffee arabica) were
used as the source of bio-fungicides. Both farmer-saved and certified seeds were found to
be contaminated with Fusarium verticillioides, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger,
Penicillium spp, Rhizopus spp and Curvularia spp. The incidences of A. flavus, F.
verticillioides and A. niger in farmer-saved TMVI were 93.5%, 55% and 24.5%
respectively higher (p< 0.01) than in certified TMV1 (24.5%, 34.25% and 4.5%
respectively). It was also found that, ethanol-extracted bio-fungicides caused 100%
inhibition of mycelial growth. For water-extracted bio-fungicides, A. indica (55.88%) and
Z. officinale (46.31%) Had were higher efficiency than C. arabica (5.15%). From in vivo
assay, seeds treated with water-extracted bio-fungicides had significantly higher mean
percentages of seedling emergence (66.7% and 83.33% for certified STAHA treated with
coffee and farmer-saved STAHA treated with neem respectively) than ethanol-extracted
bio-fungicides (7.5% and 6.67% for certified STAHA treated with coffee and farmer-
saved STAHA treated with neem respectively). Farmers are advised to use certified seeds.
But when farmer-saved seeds have to be used, pre-treating them with bio-fungicides
before sowing is crucial. However, further studies on quantifying the bio-active compounds contained in bio-
fungicides responsible for managing seed-borne fungi is recommended.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Bio-fungicidal, Seed-borne fungi, Maize, Seed germination, Morogoro