Seed-Borne Fungi of Groundnuts (Arachis Hypogaea) and Their Management with Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) Extract In Makurdi, Nigeria

Experiments were conducted at the Crop and Environmental Laboratory of the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University (formerly, Federal University of Agriculture), Makurdi to assess the occurrence of seed-borne fungi on nine varieties (Kampala, Kwankwaso, Jawunde, Samnut 21, Samnut, 22, Samnut 23, Samnut 24, Samnut 25 and Samnut 26) of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and to test the effect of ginger (Zangiber officinale) extract on Aspergillus niger and Fusarium verticilloides. Detection of seed-borne fungi was done by standard blotter methods while mycelial growth of A. niger and F. verticilloides were recorded on potato dextrose agar (PDA) culture medium. All the experiments were carried out in Completely Randomized Design replicated as appropriate. The fungi detected were Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium verticillioides, Fusarium solani and Botryodiplodia theobromae. A. flavus and A. niger were the most predominant fungi encountered. A. niger was significantly (p<0.05) higher in Kampala variety and was lowest (P<0.05) in SAMNUT 24 and SAMNUT 26. Occurrence of Fusarium verticilloides was significantly (P<0.05) lower in SAMNUT 24 compared with the other varieties except SAMNUT 26 while Fusarium solani was significantly (P<0.05) higher in Jawunda followed by Kwankwaso, and Kampala varieties. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of B. theobromae amongst the varieties tested. Mycelial growth of A. niger was significantly (P<0.05) lowest at 30 % w/v, ginger amended medium giving an inhibition rate of 91.4% compared with the control. Ginger extract at 30% w/v gave 100% inhibition of mycelial growth in F. verticilloides compared with the control. It is concluded that groundnut varieties are infected by various fungal organisms and ginger (Zangiber officinale) extract reduced the growth of A. niger and F. verticilloides infecting groundnuts