FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH STORED MAIZE (Zea mays L) GRAINS AND CONTROL WITH SELECTED BOTANICALS

Abstract

Maize (Zea maysL.) grains are mostly lost after harvesting due to rots caused by fungi. Extracts of many plants are effective for control of fungal pathogens. So far, little information is available on use of clove (Syzygiumaromaticum) buds and African nutmeg (Monodoramyristica) in controlling storage rot of maize grains during storage. Therefore, this study aimed to isolate and identify rot-causing fungi of maize sold in Umuahia and their response to selected botanicals. Infected maize (white and yellow), were sourced from Ndoro and Ubani markets for isolation and identification using standard procedures. Also, effect of aqueous extracts of clove and African nutmeg seed on Rhizopus sp., Fusarium sp., Aspergillussp and Strain were evaluated in vivo and in vivo. Experiments were laid out incompletely randomized design in triplicates. Eleven fungal species were isolated from maize samples; Aspergillus flavus (23.25,40 %), A. niger (27.25, 6.00 %) and A. tamarii (23.25, 37 %) Rhizopus spp (37, 29 %) and Fusarium solani (7.7 %), were predominant fungi species isolated in both white and yellow maize grains, respectively while, Lasidioplodiatheobromae, Alternaria sp Trichoderma sp A. ochaceous and strain had low percentage occurences that ranged from 0.8 to 3%. Identified fungi caused rots (50-19. 9 %) in both white and yellow maize grains except Alternaria sp. Clove extract reduced mycelial growth of fungi by 11.25 - 82.20 %. Clove+African nutmeg reduced growth of fungi between 19.67 and 60.40%, while African nutmeg reduced mycelial growth by 16.63-61.55% and were all significantly (p<0.05)lower than control which recorded 0.0 %. Clove controlled on Rhizopus sp., Fusarium solani, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger and Strain   in 54-86 %, in  vivo,clove+African nutmeg between 32-88 %, while African nutmegreduced fungi growth by 17-58 % in white maize and were all significantly (p<0.05) different. Clove controlled the fungi between 50-88 %, clove+African nutmeg between 52 and 86 %, while African nutmeginhibited the fungi by 56-82 % and were all significantly (p<0.05) different in yellow maize. Extracts showed promising prospect for control of the fungi studied and could be explored for management of post-harvest maize rot.