Seed treatment with a binary pesticide and aqueous extract of <i>Eclipta alba</i> (L.) Hassk. for improving sorghum yield in Burkina Faso
Keywords:
Plant extract, Antifungal activity, Seed-borne fungi, Thiram, Seedling emergence.Abstract
Seed health testing and field trials were carried out in Burkina Faso to evaluate the effects of seed treatment with aqueous extracts of Eclipta alba and a binary pesticide Calthio C 50 WS (thiram 25%, chlorpyrifos ethyl 25%) on seedborne fungi, seedling emergence, and yield of sorghum. The treatments included soaking seeds with E. alba extract (6.25 to 25% concentrations), soaking seeds in water, dusting seeds with pesticide (4 g kg–1 of seeds), and no treatment. Seed samples with moderate to high infection levels of Curvularia Boedijn., Fusarium Link: Fr., and Phoma Sacc. were used for testing. E. alba extract and Calthio C caused significant inhibition of Leptosphaeria sacchari Breda de Haan (syn. Phoma sorghina Sacc.) in vitro. In field trials, a stimulatory effect on seedling emergence and yield increases of 7 to 38% were observed for E. alba and the pesticide treatments, as compared to no treatment. Yield increases were significant for plant extract and pesticide in two out of three trials. No consistent effect on yield was observed for water treatment. Our findings represent the first large-scale field testing of E. alba for seed treatment of sorghum and the first direct comparison with a thiram-based pesticide and seed priming.Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright © 2001-11 Kerala Agricultural University. Some rights reserved. This journal and the individual contributions contained in it are protected under copyright by the Kerala Agricultural University and the following terms and conditions apply to their use; Photocopying Single photocopies of single articles may be made for personal use as allowed by national copyright laws. Permission of the publisher and payment of a fee is required for all other photocopying including multiple or systematic copying, copying for advertising or promotional purposes, resale, and all forms of document delivery. Permission may be sought directly from the Editor, Journal of Tropical Agriculture, Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture,, Kerala Agricultural University, KAU PO, Thrissur 680 656, Kerala, India. (Phone: +91-487-2438325; Fax +91-487-2371040; E-mail: editor.jta@kau.in. Derivative works Subscribers may reproduce tables of contents or prepare lists of articles including abstracts for internal circulation within their institution. Permission of the Publisher is required for resale or distribution outside the institution. Permission of the Publisher is required for all other derivative works, including compilations and translations. Notice No responsibility is assumed by the Publisher for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a matter of products, liability, negligence, or otherwise, or from any use of any methods, products, instructions or ideas contained in the material herein.