Efficacy of Some Biotic and Abiotic Agents on Seed־borne Fungi and Growth Character of Forage (vigna Unguiculata (l.) Walp.)
Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: This study was undertaken to study the seed-borne fungi of forage cowpea that attack the plants and reduce their yield in Egypt. The blotter test methods were used surface-sterilized forage cowpea seeds were tested to detect and isolate the associated seed –borne fungi. 6 fungal species belonging to 2 genera was observed and identified Aspergillus flavus (2.6 %), Aspergillus niger (3.2%), Fusarium equiseti (12.4%), Fusarium semitectum (9.5%), Fusarium solani (6.8%) and Fusariurn oxysporum were the most prominent fungi isolated in this study (62.8%).The pathogenicity test revealed that the most commonly isolated fungi were Fusariurn oxysporum. Also, F. oxysporum caused the highest pre-emergence damping–off percentage followed by, F. semitectum, F equiseti and F. solaniTreating forage cowpea seeds (cvs. Local and Upright growth) with Vitavax–T70, Neem leaf extract and Commercial bioagents (Rizo–N and Plant–guard) before sowing significantly increased the shoot, root length, seedling dry weight and decreased significantly the dead plants of the most resulted seedlings at 12 days old compared with the un-treated seeds with both two cvs., under greenhouse. In this respect, the highest increase in the shoot, root length, seedling dry weight and decreased significantly the dead plants of resulted seedlings was in case of treating seeds with vitavax-T70 and Rizo-N in soil infested with F. oxysporum, vitavax-T70 followed by Rizo-N were the best seed treatments in increasing the shoot, root length, seedling dry weight and significantly decreased the dead plants forage cowpea in case of soil infested with F. oxysporum under greenhouse condition.On the other hand, treating forage cowpea seeds with Vitavax–T70, Neem leaf extract and bioagents (Rizo–N and Plant-guard) reduced root rot incidence under field conditions. Vitavax–T70 and Rizo–N followed by Plant–guard were the best effective agents on reducing root–rot incidence of tested forage cowpea plants with both two cultivars, during growing seasons 2012 and 2013. Also, Vitavax–T70 was the best effective agent on reducing root-rot incidence and increasing the survived plants of both forage cowpea cvs during the two growing seasons. Meanwhile, treating forage cowpea seeds with Vitavax–T70, also Neem leaf extract and bioagents (Rizo–N and Plant–guard) before sowing for controlling root rot pathogens increased plant height, number of branches per plant on growing plants, number of leaves per plant, dry leaf / stem ratio per plant , fresh weight per plant (g) , dry weight plant-1, fresh yield (ton fed-1), dry yield (ton fed-1), pod length (cm), pod weight, number of seeds per pod, weight of 100-seeds (g), grain yield (kg / feddan of yielded cowpea of both cowpea cvs, during the two growing seasons comparing with un-treated seeds (control). Generally, Vitavax-T70, Rizo–N and Plant-guard were the best seed treatments in this respect. It is pronounced also that Vitavax–T70 and Rizo-N were more effective than many of tested fungicide as Neem leaf extract and Plant-guard as well as un-treated ones.It is concluded that treating forage cowpea seeds (cvs., Local and Upright growth) with Vitavax-T70 before sowing were the best seed treatment under greenhouse and field conditions to control seed-borne disease compared with Vitavax–T70 and Commercial bioagents (Rizo–N and Plant–guard).
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7117474226