Incidence and control of seedborne fungal infections associated with post-germination mortality in seedlings of Melia volkensii Gurke.
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Date
2013Author
Mulanda, E. S
Adero, M. O
Amugune, N. O
Akunda, E
Kinyamario, J. I.
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
A laboratory study was carried out at the School of Biological Sciences, Chiromo Campus, University of Nairobi, for identification of seed-borne fungi that emerge during germination of M. volkensii seeds. The study sought to determine the incidence, pathological symptoms and effects of the fungi on post-germination survival of seedlings. Mature seeds collected from wild trees in three agro-climatic zones in semi arid eastern Kenya were scarified by nipping and slitting of the testa and divided into two groups. The treatment group received a single pulse pre-treatment consisting of a 30-minute soak in 1% (m/v) Bavistin, while the control group was soaked in tap water. Aspergillus flavus and Rhizopus stolonifer infections emerged in the control group. A Mann-Whitney U test showed the control group as having significantly higher infections with both fungi (range of p values=0.003 to 0.010) during and after germination than the fungicide-treated group. Post-germination seedling survival was also significantly enhanced by 31.66% in the treated group relative to the control (range of p values=0.004 to 0.010). A single pre-treatment with the systemic fungicide Bavistin may be recommended for reduction of seedling mortality in M. volkensii during and after germination.
Citation
ournal of Experimental Biology and Agricultural Sciences 2013 Vol. 1 No. 4 pp. 228-235Publisher
University of Nairobi