The effects of seedborne funci on the quallty of maize grain in Kenya
Abstract
According to a survey conducted in 5 districts
in Kenya during the period 1982/83, many fungi were
associated with maize grains. These fungi were
found to have adverse effects on gralns as feed and
seed. Fusarium and Penicillium ~ were found ln
all samples and Aspergillus ~ in 80% of the
samples. Septoria maydis was also observed in one
sample from Nakuru. Most of the fungi observed
caused percent infection below 10% except Penicillium,
Aspergillus and Fusarium ~ whose level of
infection were 24.3%, 17.2% and 16.4% respectively.
Diplodia maydis and Septoria maydis were found
on dark-brown dead seeds. Fusarium moniliforme were
isolated from 80% of the samples and hindered
germination in pink seeds, while in others it caused
blight and root-rot. High infection at the hilum of
the seeds by Penicillium oxalicum killed the seeds.
Cephalosporium acremonium was isolated from seeds
which were dark-brown at the hilum.
Samples from Meru had high infection by
Aspergillus ~E£ and environmental conditions were
ideal for aflatoxin production. On TLC analysis
these grains yielded 65 ~g/kg total aflatoxin.
Application of the f un gi.c i des Captan and Fernasan
D effectively controlled most of the fungi without
serious side effects. Benomyl eradicated all
fungi but caused phytotoxicity to young seedlings.
Citation
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN PLANT PATHOLOGYPublisher
University of Nairobi Department of plant science and crop protection