Seed Vigour Enhancement and Protective Potential of Annona senegalensis Leaf Extracts against Fungal Pathogens of Sorghum Seeds

Abstract

Medicinal plants are in nature and are cultivated worldwide and also commercially. This study was aimed at assessing the protective potential of leaf extracts of Annona senegalensis against selected fungal pathogens of sorghum seeds. Before the use of the seeds, they were checked for viability and surface sterilized. In this study, the effective concentration, optimum soaking time, protective potential of the extract and antibacterial effect of the extracts were carried out. During each setup, at the end of the planting period, percentage germination, germination index, germination capacity, germination rate, germination time and seed vigour were calculated. The most effective concentrations of the aqueous, n-hexane, ethanol extracts of Annona senegalensis and copper sulphate solution were observed to be 2000 mg/L, 7000 mg/L, 2000 mg/L and 5000 mg/L respectively while the best soaking times of the seeds in the copper sulphate solution, aqueous and n-hexane extracts of Annona senegalensis were 30 min while for ethanol extract was 60 min. The infected seeds that were treated with the extracts showed high level of germination and seed vigour. This study was able to reveal the potential of Annona senegalensis in the enhancement of germination and seedling vigour as well as the protective effect against fungal pathogens. This study can be exploited to control the growth of storage or spoilage fungi thus reducing the dependence on the synthetic fungicides.