Control of Ear Rot Fungal Disease of Maize (Zea mays L.) Caused by Fusarium graminearum Using Plant Extracts

Abstract

Background: This study investigated fungal ear rot disease of maize caused by Fusarium graminearum in Southern Borno state Nigeria. Methods: Aqueous extracts of waltheria (W indica), sickle pod (S. tora) and bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) root, stem, leaf, seed and flower were tested for their efficacy in controlling ear rot fungal pathogen of maize. Completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications protocol was used. Results: The results obtained revealed that the three plant extracts studied, all were found to have inhibitory effect on conidial growth of F. graminearum. The V, amygdalina leaf extract recorded maximum inhibition of F. graminearum macroconidial growth at 40%, followed by 60% and 20% respectively. The effectiveness of V. amygdalina extract in controlling F. graminearum is closer to that of W. indica. The inhibition of F. graminearum on macroconidial growth by aqueous extract of W. indica followed same pattern with that of V. amygdalina, recording maximum inhibition by the leaf extract at 40%, followed by 60% and 20% respectively. The outcome of this study revealed that there is no significant difference between concentration and plants in inhibition of conidial growth of Fusarium graminearum on S. tora root at 40% concentration which eliminated F. graminearum. Conclusion: It was concluded from the study that Fusarium graminearum is the common pathogenic fungi which cause ear rot disease of maize in the study area. The plant extracts investigated demonstrated inhibitory effect against the fungi, thus serve as a source of natural agent for the prevention or treatment of fungal ear rot disease of maize.