Incidence and management of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides canker on Jatropha curcas L. in Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

The Impact of fungal pathogens on man is enormous, stretching from infecting humans to destroying a third of all food crops annually thereby causing economic losses and impacting global poverty. As a result, fungal disease incidence was assessed under natural field infection and data were collected randomly from 12 months old jatropha seedlings with cankers. Colletotrichum spp. isolated from the diseased sampled were interacted with known fungi and bacteria biocontrol agents. The experiment was carried out on completely randomized design (CRD) in the laboratory. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and statistically different means were separated using LSD (p≤0.05). The dual culture interaction proved that all the BCA used, possessed antagonistic potential, and could serve best for prophylactic protection. Plant diseases may be suppressed by the activities of one or more plant-associated microbes hence keeping them in check below threshold levels. This will help to maintain the quality and abundance of food, thereby mitigating hunger. Negative environmental consequences caused by excessive use and misuse of agrochemicals, requires that healthier and costeffective approaches to disease management should be adopted.

Keywords: Biodiesel; Agrochemicals; Biocontrol agent; Dual culture; Pathogens