Evaluation and improvement of the health status of farmer-saved okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) seeds in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

Abstract

Farmer-saved seeds are major plant pathogen carriers, which serve as the primary source of inocula of many diseases leading to massive crop losses. In view of this, laboratory experiments to evaluate seed quality and prevalence of seed-borne fungi of farmer-saved okra seeds in 10 major okra growing communities in the Ashanti region were conducted. Two local okra varieties (Asontem and Asante Aba) were collected from farmers for the laboratory studies. Although the collected seeds were observed to be of high purity, their moisture contents were high. The germination percentage, percentage of normal roots, field emergence and establishment of seedlings derived from okra seeds were also low. The study moreover showed high total seed-borne fungi infection. Health testing of the okra seeds revealed the presence of eight seed-borne fungi namely Fusarium sp., Colletotrichum sp., Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Rhizopus sp., Mucor sp., Penicillium sp. and Curvularia sp. Seeds of Asante Aba variety showed good quality characteristics over seeds of Asontem. Seeds of the two varieties placed in airtight plastic containers stored better than seeds placed in insecticide-treated mosquito nets. Treatment of okra seeds with Dresscare and Senna siamea wood ash resulted in a lower incidence of seed-borne fungi and better seed quality characteristics. Treating okra seeds with Dresscare and Senna siamea wood ash and storing in airtight plastic containers is therefore recommended.