EFFICACY OF FERNASAN-D AND WOOD ASH IN THE CONTROL OF SEED-BORNE FUNGI, PREEMERGENCE MORTALITY AND SEEDLING BLIGHT OF MAIZE

The efficacy of Fernasan D (FD) [containing 25% W/W Thiram and 20% W/W Benzene hexachloride (Lindane)] and four wood ashes prepared from Aza dirachta indica (Ai) Vernonia amygdalina (Va), Gliricidia sepium (Gs) and Cassia siamea (Cs) were tested against seed-borne fungi of maize. The effects of the seed treatments on seed germination, pre-emergence mortality and seedling blight were also investigated. Asperqillus flav us, niqer, Fusarium semitectum, moniliforme, Curvularia pallescens, lu nata, Drechslera maydis, Penicillium spp. and Rhizopus spp. were isola ted from the seed. Seed treatment with Fernasan D resulted in a signif icant reduction in percentage incidence of A. flavus and complete cont rol of all the other isolated seed-borne fungi. The various ash treatm ents gave complete control of D. maydis, C. Pallescens and C. lunata a nd a significant reduction in percentage incidence of Aspergillus, Fus arium and Penicillum spp. Mean percentage incidence of Rhizopus spp. w as slightly increased in Ai-treated seeds. The percentage seed germina tion was significantly increased in all seed treatments except in Ai-t reated seeds. Percentage pre-emergence mortality and seedling blight w as reduced significantly (P=O.OS) in FD - and ash-treated seeds. On th e average, the wood ashes were 42.6, 40.3 and 41.3% as effective as Fe rnasan D in improving the viability of the seeds and in reducing incid ence of pre-emergence mortality and seedling blight of maize, respecti vely. Overall, the disease control efficacy of the seed treatments was in the order FD> Va> Gs> Cs> Ai. It is suggested that seed treatment with wood ash should be practised by peasant farmers who cannot afford agrochemicals for control of seed-borne fungi of maize.