EFFECT OF PLANT EXTRACT ON SEED HEALTH STATUS OF THREE SELECTED MAIZE VARIETIES

Abstract

Experiment was conducted to know the effect of plant extract on seed health status of three selected maize variesties BHM-3, BHM-7, BHM-9 during the period January 2015 to February 2016 in the Department of Plant Pathology, Sher-eBangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Four plant extracts viz. neem

leaf,

garlic bulb, mustard seed, alamonda leaf were used. In the experiment seed germination was the highest (97.22%) in seed treated with neem leaf extract. Three fungi Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger and Fusarium moniliforme were identified. The lowest incidence (15.22%) of Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium moniliforme (4.77%) were observed in seed treated with neem leaf extract. The lowest incidence (13.78%) of Aspergillus niger was observed in seed treated with alamonda leaf extract. Seedling symptom test yielded the highest seed germination, normal seedling and the lowest disease incidence in maize variety BHM-9. Seedling vigor index was found promising in neem leaf extract. Maximum germination (95.56%), maximum number of healthy seedling (84.67%), minimum number of dead seedling (3.88%), minimum number of diseased seedlings (7.11%), abnormal seedling (3.22%) and the highest vigor index (2198) were observed in seed treated with neem leaf extract. Farmers are therefore, advised to use neem leaf extract for treating maize seed before sowing.