Effectiveness of Duration of Storage and Phytochemicals in the Management of Seed-Borne Mycoflora of Stored Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata(L.) Walp) Seeds

Piper guineense, Monodora myristica and Xylopia aethiopica seeds extracts were evaluated in the laboratory for their effects on the incidence of the seed-borne mycoflora of cowpea (Var.IAR-48) and germination of the treated seeds.The cowpea seeds were stored for 0-3 months in air-tight containers inside dark cupboards in the laboratory.On the last day of each storage period, the seeds were coated with thin films of the different plant extract powders and thereafter, they were plated and incubated at 27 o C for 5 days in Petri dishes containing moistened filter papers.The experiment was a 4 x 5 factorial laid out in completely randomized design (CRD).The fungal organisms isolated from the incubated seeds were Fusarium sp., Mucor sp., Aspergillus spp., Colletotrichum sp., and Curvularia sp.All the extracts with the exception of X. aethiopica were significantly (p<0.05)superior to benlatein reducing the incidence of the seed-borne fungi associated with the cowpea seeds, however the germination of the treated seeds was highest in Piper guineense dressed seeds (21.30%).In the overall, the mean incidence of the seed-borne mycoflora of the treated cowpea seeds decreased as storage period increased while germination also decreased with increasing storage period.Hence, these plants extract powders especially Piper guineense could be used in IDM programmes, for seed-dressing of cowpea for increased productivity.