EFFECT OF PYTHIUM APHANIDERMATUM ON TWO CULTIVARS OF PEPPER (Capsicum spp)
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Date
2012
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Faculty of Agriculture University of Uyo-Nigeria
Abstract
A potted experiment was carried out to study the effect of Pythium aphanidermatum on two cultivars of pepper [NHVIB
(improved variety) and Sombo (local variety)]. 24 pots of sterilized soil were used and four seeds of each pepper variety were
planted in 12 pots each. The plants were inoculated by drenching at planting (pre-emergence) and 2weeks later (postemergence)
and non-inoculated plants served as control. The inoculum was pure isolates of P. aphanidermatum, obtained
from sub-culturing colonies of the fungus that was growing on infected okra root tissues. Data were collected for growth and
yield indices. The data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and significant differences determined at P < 0.05.
The results showed that there were significant differences in the growth and yield parameters between the inoculated and the
control plants, with the inoculated plants having lower values. Pre-emergence inoculation appeared to be more effective than
post-emergence inoculation in inducing disease response in plants. The improved variety NHVIB generally performed better
than the local variety. The results suggest that prevention of early fungi infection and the availability of disease resistant
cultivars could be the best control strategies in reducing the diseases caused by Pythium spp on pepper.
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Keywords
Pythium aphanidermatum, Pepper cultivar, Pre-emergence, Post-emergence, Inoculation