Status of Lentil (Lens culinaris Medicus) Seed Borne Mycoflora and Evaluation of Botanical Extracts and Trichoderma spp. for their Management in Ambo District, West Shewa Zone, Ethiopia

This study was carried out to identify and quantify seed mycoflora associated with lentil seed samples and evaluate the antimicrobial activities of seven plant extracts and three Trichoderma species against the seed borne fungal pathogens as management strategies. In vitro antifungal evaluation of plant extracts was done by food poisoning technique and dual culture method was applied for evaluation of antagonistic effect of Trichoderma species against test fungi. Fifty seed samples were collected from different farmers’ saved seeds. A total of 5 fungal species belonging to 5 genera were recovered from seeds and identified. Among them Fusarium oxysporium f.sp.lentis, Cladosporium spp., Aspergillus spp. and Penicillium spp. were the most predominant fungi to all tested seed samples. Fusarium oxysporium f. sp. lentis was found to transmitted from seed to seedlings and affect seed germination. The maximum seed germination rate (95.00%) was observed in Dase Akililo and minimum (38.50%) in Golja- seed samples. In vitro evaluation of hot and cold-water extracts of botanicals and Trichoderma species against Fusarium oxysporium f. sp. lentis showed maximum inhibitory action. All the tested plant extracts at 5, 10 and 15% concentrations, significantly inhibited the mycelial growth of the test fungi. The inhibitory action of the aqueous plant extracts on mycelial growth increased with increased in concentrations and the hot water extracts gave high toxicity than cold water extracts in the test fungi. The highest inhibitory effect was recorded in Allium sativum hot water extracts at 15 % concentration (79.26%). In vitro evaluation of antagonistic effect of Trichoderma species, all of them exhibited the strongest antagonistic activity against the test fungi. Generally, the current results indicated that most of the plant extracts and all three Trichoderma spp. tested in the present study results were potentially inhibit the growth of Fusarium oxysporium f. sp. lentis. Hence, further screening of active ingredients and the formulation of the products is needed to recommend for the end users.

Ararsa Leta1, Habtamu Haile Kabeta2 and Thangavel Selvaraj*3 Click here to download file

Research Article | Published online : 29-Mar-2023