Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences

Greener Journal of  Agricultural Sciences Vol. 3 (5), pp. 312-319, May 2013.

 ISSN: 2276-7770 

Research Paper

Manuscript Number: 022013484

 

Potency of Some Plant Extracts and Pesticides on Bacterial Leaf Blight Diseases of Cocoyam (Colocasia Esculenta) in Umudike, South Eastern Nigeria

 

Emma Opara*¹, Theresa C. Njoku² and Chikodi Isaiah³

 

^1*,3Department of Plant Health Management, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.

²Department of Crop Science, Imo State University, Owerri.

 

^1*Corresponding Author’s Email: euopara22 @ yahoo. com

Abstract:

A pot trial was conducted in 2010 and 2011 cropping seasons at the screen house of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike to determine the potency of some plant extracts and pesticides for the control of bacterial leaf blight of cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta L.) Scholt. The materials employed include: lemon grass (Cymbopogon citrates). Black pepper seed (Piper guineense), orange peel (Citrus sinesis), streptomycin sulphate (antibiotic), copper oxychloride (fungicide) and sterile water (control). The experiment was laid in complete randomized design (CRD) and replicated six times. The plant materials used were first made into aqueous extracts using cold water extraction and diluted to 10% concentration. Application on leaves was by use of a hand sprayer for two weekly intervals. Data were collected on disease severity and incidence including growth parameters and on yield of corms.  The results obtained showed that all the plant extracts were able to reduce disease and increase yield better than the untreated control.

 

Keywords: Colocasia esculenta, bacterial leaf blight, plant extracts, Xanthomonas campestris pv. Campestris.

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