Effectiveness of Brassica Juncea as a Biofumigant in Controlling Fusarium Oxysporum Fsp Tuberosi in Potatoes (Solanum Tuberosum)
- Author
- Hatinanyika, Knowledge
- Title
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Effectiveness of Brassica Juncea as a Biofumigant in Controlling Fusarium Oxysporum Fsp Tuberosi in Potatoes (Solanum Tuberosum)
- Abstract
- Fusarium oxysporum fsp tuberosi is an important soilborne pathogen which causes vascular wilt on potato worldwide. However, toxicity and an increase of pollution caused by fungicides have led to the development of environmentally friendly control measures such as biofumigation. A laboratory study was conducted to determine the effects of B. juncea plant extract concentrations on growth of Fusarium oxysporum fsp tuberosi in-vitro. The treatments were B. juncea plant extracts at 1, 2 and 3 g, Ridomil gold (positive control) and distilled water (negative control). Data on radial mycelium growth and inhibition percentage were collected. A glasshouse study was also done to evaluate the biofumigant effect of decomposed B. juncea residues on the incidence and severity of vascular wilt pathogen Fusarium oxysporum fsp tuberosi in potatoes. The treatments were decomposed B. juncea residues at 60, 40 and 20 g, Ridomil gold (positive control), no crop residues amendment and inoculation (negative control) and a healthy control. Data on disease incidence and severity were collected. Both experiments were conducted at Zimbabwe Fertilizer Company (ZFC Ltd). Brassica juncea plant extracts significantly reduced (p < 0.05) radial mycelium growth and had inhibitory effects on the development of F. oxysporum fsp tuberosi. Radial mycelium growth decreased as the amount of plant tissues added to each Petri dish increased. Mycelium inhibition percentage increased as the amount of plant tissue added to each Petri dish increased. Brassica juncea (at 60g) decomposed residues significantly reduced (p < 0.05) disease incidence and severity at 8 and 10 weeks after planting. However, all treatments failed to reduce disease incidence and severity at week 12. From the results it can be concluded that B. juncea has a biofumigant effect and farmers can use decomposed residues as they reduce disease incidence and severity at the early weeks of incorporation.
- Date
- 2023
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
- Brassica Juncea
- Biofumigant
- Supervisor
- N/A
- Item sets
- Department of Crop Sciences
