Research Article

Isolation of fungi associated with necrotic lesions on groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.walp) pods and seeds in Samaru Zaria, Nigeria

Ibrahim H¹, Dangora DB² and Tahir SM^3*

^1&3Department of Biological Sciences, Kaduna State University, Kaduna

²Department Biological Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

*Corresponding Author’s Email: leemat123@yahoo.com, stahir1990@gmail.com, Tel; 07034502167, 07032852090

Accepted 06 January 2013

Abstract

Fungi associated with necrotic lesions on groundnut pods and seeds in Samaru, Zaria, Nigeria were studied. The percentage and mean percentage occurrence of the fungi isolated were determined. Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) was prepared using potato extract mixed with 20g each of agar and glucose and autoclaved at 121˚c for 15 minute. Pieces of both infected pods and seeds were surface sterilized in 0.1% mercury chloride for 1 minute after which they were rinsed three (3) times in sterile distilled water and plated asceptically in petri dishes containing PDA. They were incubated at room temperature and observed for the growth of pathogens after every 24 hours for 7 days. The isolated pathogens were then sub cultured on fresh PDA and used for identification. The following fungi were isolated from both the pods and seed parts. Fusarium Sp, Macrophomina Sp, Phoma Sp, Aspergillus niger and Chloridium Sp, with Fusarium Sp having the highest mean percentage occurrence of 6.7%. The presence of Fusarium Sp and Macrophomina Sp was considered as the possible cause of groundnut pod rot disease. The identification of the pathogens was confirmed at the Department of Crop Protection, diagnostic service unit, Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) ABU Zaria.

Key words: Groundnut, Necrotic, Lesion, Pathogen, Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA)