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Seed Borne fungi Castor Oil (<i>Ricinus cummunis</i>): Effect of Their Metabolites and Fungicides on Seed Germination and Other Seedling Parameters


EA Maji
ED Imolehin

Abstract

An investigation of fungi associated with castor oil seeds collected from four different locations in Nigeria showed Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Fusarium moniliforme and Penicillium spp. to be the most abundant. Metabolites from these fungi significantly (p=0.05) depressed seed germination and seedling establishment. Four fungicides, metalaxyl + carboxin + furathiocarb [Apron-plus], benomyl [Benlate], mancozeb [Dithan M45] and thiran [Fernasan D] at three different concentrations all significantly controlled seed-borne fungi and increased seed germination. Benomyl proved to be the most effective in controlling mycoflora and increasing seed germination.


Keywords: Fungi, seed-borne, metabolites, fungicides and germination.


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print ISSN: 0300-368X