Assessment of White Yam Tuber Rot Disease and in vitro Management of Aspergillus niger in Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Paper Details
Assessment of White Yam Tuber Rot Disease and in vitro Management of Aspergillus niger in Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Abstract
White yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir) is an important tuber crop cultivated for consumption and income generation in Nigeria. Its production is severely affected by the rot disease, which causes a reduction in tuber yield. A study was carried out in Abakiliki and Ikwo Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State to assess the level of infection of tubers in the major markets; the pathogenicity of the isolates on tubers in vivo; the effect of aqueous extracts of five plants (leaves of Eucalyptus globulus, Melaleuca cajuputi, Andrographis paniculata and Azadirachta indica, and shoots of Euphorbia hirta) at 50 and 100% concentrations, the synthetic fungicides Mancozeb® and Tandem® (at the half and full recommended rates) for management of Aspergillus niger in vitro. A negative control without the fungicide or plant extract was included. The mean percentage of infection of tubers in the markets was 13.5%. All the pathogens isolated were fungi (Fusarium anthophilum, Rhizopus stolonifer, Aspergillus niger, A. fumigatus, A. flavius, Pythium ultimum, Mucor sp., and Penicillum oxalicum). Aspergillus niger had the highest frequency (21.4%). All plant extracts inhibited the growth of A. niger significantly compared to the negative control and the level was higher at 100% concentration than at 50%. The synthetic fungicides gave higher inhibition of the fungus than the plant extracts; the level of inhibition was more with Mancozeb® than with Tandem®. In conclusion, the aqueous extracts of all the plants, especially 100% E. globulus, showed promising activity against A. niger, a major pathogen that causes yam tuber rot disease.
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E.M. Ndifon, A.F. Lum, 2021. Assessment of White Yam Tuber Rot Disease and in vitro Management of Aspergillus niger in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Int. J. Biosci., 19(4), 32-40.
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