EFFECT OF DIFFERENT STORAGE MATERIALS AND CONDITIONS ON SEED-BORNE FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH COWPEA, VIGNA UNGUICULATA L. WALP

Abstract

The effect of different storage materials and conditions on seedborne fungi associated with cowpea, Vigna unguiculata L. Walp was evaluated in this study. Ife brown variety of cowpea seeds of 10gwere weighed into five different storage materials: jute bag, envelope, polythene bag, muslin cloth and rubber plastic. These were stored in Refrigerator and ambient temperature; subjected to 40Cand 27 + 2oC respectively, and taken for seed borne fungi identification at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 months. The effect of seed-bornefungi on viability of the seeds was determined. The experiment was laid out with 3 replicates in 2 x 5 factorial in Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance using SAS package and means separation by Duncan Multiple Range Test. It was observed that seeds stored in refrigerating had significantly higher germination compared to ambient condition, while incidence of fungi increase as period of storage increases in ambient condition compared to refrigerating condition that decrease as the period of storage increases irrespective of the materials. The results showed that the storage materials and conditions influenced viability and seed-borne fungi in cowpea seed. The most effective among the storage materials is polythene bag at 40C. Cowpea seeds were associated with many fungiin ambient condition which led to reduction in seed viability. It is therefore important to store cowpea seeds in polythene bag in are frigerating condition in order to maintain the seed viability and prevent establishment of seed-borne fungi on cowpea seeds.