Effect of selected plant extracts on the viability and vigour of maize seeds infected with Fusarium semitectum

This study aimed to investigate the role of various plant extracts: Neem leaf extract (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) and cold and hot aqueous fruit extracts of the Chinaberry tree (Melia azedarach L.), referred to as A1, A2, A3 respectively, besides the control treatment A0 at concentrations of 0, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 mg L-1, for controlling the fungus F. semitectum. Based on preliminary screening, effective concentrations were identified, namely 1000, 2000 and 1500 mg L-1 for A1, A2 and A3 respectively, which resulted in 100 % inhibition of fungal growth. These were then used for conducting a field test experiment and laboratory test to study the effect of soaking seeds using various combinations of A0, A1, A2, A3. Four experiments were conducted on the germination and emergence of maize seeds in a media with fungus culture. Results showed that neem leaf extract at a concentration of 1000 mg L-1 and the aqueous extracts of Chinaberry fruits at a concentration of 1500–2500 mg L-1 completely inhibited the growth of the fungus. Moreover, Neem treatment alone A1 showed better results over the control treatment in both in vitro germination (87.50 %) and emergence (80.25 %). Interaction A1×A2 showed maximum strength of germination (1135), emergence length (6.72 cm), maximum dry weight of sprouting (0.0517g), suggestive of a synergistic effect of the compounds in A1 and A2. These observations reiterate that Neem and Safflower leaf extracts could be utilized effectively in promoting healthy seed life with reduced possibilities of seed diseases, besides being eco-friendly substitutes for poisonous pesticides.