scholarly journals Taro Leaf Blight: Disease Assessment, Farmers’ Knowledge and Management Potential of Goatweed Extract in South West Cameroon

2021 ◽  
pp. 159-166
Author(s):  
Lum A. F. ◽  
Takor M. C.

Leaf blight disease severely constrains the production of taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) in Cameroon. Studies were conducted in seven localities in Fako Division, South West Region of Cameroon to assess the incidence and severity of the disease in taro farms using non-destructive sampling, and to document farmers’ knowledge about it using a structured questionnaire. The fungicidal effect of the aqueous leaf extract of goatweed (Ageratum conyzoides L.) at 0 and 100% concentrations and the chemical fungicide Mancozan was tested in-vitro. Results revealed widespread distribution of the disease in the Region. The incidence (77.996.5%) and severity (51.9 – 85.6%) varied significantly (P≤0.05) across the localities. The infection rate was classified as high in four localities and very high in three. The farmers were able to identify the disease and understood its effects on taro production but they were not aware of any pesticidal plants for its management. The aqueous leaf extract (100%) of goatweed and Mancozan significantly (P≤0.05) inhibited the mycelia growth of the fungus compared to the untreated control (0%). The plant extract had the potential to control the disease although it gave moderate inhibition of the fungus (38.4% at 9 days after exposure) which was not as effective as Mancozan (100% inhibition). Goatweed could be exploited for use as a source of natural fungicide for management of the pathogen. This study provides baseline information for future studies on the disease and recognises it as a major challenge to the sustainable production of taro.

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jyoti Gaba ◽  
Sunita Sharma ◽  
Harleen Kaur ◽  
Pardeep Kaur

Background: Thymol is a bioactive compound having many pharmacological activities. Objective: The present study was carried out to evaluate the fungi toxic effects of thymol and derivatives against phytopathogenic fungi of maize. Method: Thymol was derivatized to get formylated thymol, Mannich bases, and imine derivatives. All the synthesized thymol derivatives were characterized by their physical and spectral properties. Synthesized thymol derivatives were screened for their in vitro antifungal effects using poisoned food technique against three maize pathogenic fungi namely Fusarium moniliforme, Rhizoctonia solani and Dreschlera maydis. Results: Thymol and formylated thymol showed promising results for control of D. maydis with ED50 values less than standard carbendazim and comparable to standard mancozeb. These two compounds were further evaluated for control of D. maydis causative maydis leaf blight disease on maize plants grown in the field during the Kharif season (June to October) 2018. Conclusion: Thymol exhibited significant control of maydis leaf blight disease of maize and emerged as a potential alternative to synthetic fungicides used in cereal crops.


2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (23) ◽  
pp. 9188-9200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josua Markus ◽  
Ramya Mathiyalagan ◽  
Yeon-Ju Kim ◽  
Yaxi Han ◽  
Zuly Elizabeth Jiménez-Pérez ◽  
...  

Synthesis of Rh2–ZnO nanocomposites stabilized with hyaluronic acid or O-carboxymethyl chitosan.


2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 38-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Shamala ◽  
G. R. Janardhana

Chrysanthemum is one of the commercially important flower crop with great potential both as loose and cut flowers in Karnataka state. In the present study, prevalence and incidence of leaf blight disease was studied in six major growing districts of South Karnataka during 2012 - 2013. The pathogen associated with leaf blight disease was isolated and identified as Alternaria alternata. The study revealed that, the disease was distributed in Southern districts of Karnataka wherever Chrysanthemum is grown. The varieties Chandini and Karnel were more susceptible to blight showing highest disease incidence (100%) and severity (100%) recorded from Mandya and Mysore regions. The lowest disease incidence, severity and PDI of 18.40%, 38.68% and 24.89% were recorded on Rajawhite variety in Bangalore region. During 2013, the highest disease incidence, severity and PDI with 100%, 98.47%, and 45.71% were recorded in Mysore district on Chandini variety. In vitro evaluation of four fungicides on Alternaria alternata revealed that Carbendazim+Mancozeb was most effective with 95.65% inhibition followed by Carbendazim, Mancozeb and Metalaxyl+Mancozeb with 68.26%, 91.30% and 91.30% inhibition of the mycelium at 2.0% concentration.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijls.v9i3.12465   International Journal of Life Sciences 9 (3): 2015; 38-45


2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bekesho Geleta ◽  
Mebrahtu Eyasu ◽  
Selamu Kebamo ◽  
Asfaw Debella ◽  
Eyasu Makonnen ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Mandah Cicelia Takor ◽  
Ekwa Yawa Monono ◽  
Ojong Agbor Ntane ◽  
Jemimah Evenye Ngale ◽  
Lum A. Fontem

Taro leaf blight (TLB), a major disease of taro plant caused by Phytophthora colocasiae, a pseudo-fungus, that occurs in many taro producing areas, especially in the South West of Cameroon. A Survey was conducted to assess farmers’ knowledge, as well as to determine the incidence and the severity of the disease in taro fields. Structured questionnaires were administered in selected locations (Bokova, Ekona, Muea, Mile 16, Mutengene, and Likomba) of taro production. Two farms were selected with two quadrats of 64 m2 each were carved to assess disease incidence and severity on taro. The number of plants infected with taro leaf blight were counted and the area of the affected leaves measured was used to evaluate the disease incidence and disease severity. Data collected were subjected to ANOVA for complete randomized design and the means were compared using Tukey test at 0.05 probability levels. The results revealed that most of the farmers could identify the disease while practicing cultural methods in controlling the disease. The results also revealed significant differences (p = 0.001) in disease incidence and disease severity in all the localities, with Mile 16 showing the highest percentage mean of 96.53% and 85.59%, respectively. The severity scored showed high infection range of 3 – 3.95 in all locations except in Likomba (2.60).  It could be concluded from the results that there were high prevalence of taro leaf blight disease in Fako Division. Good management strategies are therefore required to control Taro leaf blight and improve taro production in the area.


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