EFFECTS OF SEED-BORNE FUNGI ON SOYBEAN (Glycine max L.) GERMINABILITY AND THEIR CONTROL WITH CLOVE (Syzygiumaromaticum(L.) MERR. & PERRY) EXTRACT

Abstract

Seed-borne fungal pathogens pose a significant threat to soybean (Glycinemax L.) production by reducing seed germinability, seedling vigour, and overall crop yield. Hence, it is necessary to identify non-hazardous management measures for seed-borne fungi of soybean seeds. This study investigated the effect of seed-borne fungi on soybean seedlings and theefficacy of aqueous clove (Syzygiumaromaticum(L.) Merr. and Perryextract as a natural seed treatment. Diseased soybean seeds were collected from Ubani market in Umuahia and assessed for fungal infection using standard procedures. Pathogenicity tests were conducted on healthy seeds, while clove extracts at concentrations of 20, 40, and 60% were applied oninfected seeds prior to fungal inoculation and germination assessment. A total of sixteen fungal species were isolated, with Fusariumoxysporum (14%), Aspergillusflavus (11%), and Aspergillustamarii (11%) recording higher occurrence Pathogenicity tests showed that several isolates including F. oxysporum, A. flavus, F. equiseti, and Rhizopus stolonifer caused up to 100% seed rot. Treatment with clove extract significantly (p=0.05) inhibited fungal growth, especially at 60% concentration, with complete mycelial suppression of F. oxysporum and up to 100% seed germination in inoculated seeds were recorded. These findings reveal the prevalence and virulence of seed-borne fungal pathogens in soybean seeds, and showed clove extract as a promising botanical alternative to synthetic fungicides.