BOTANICAL TREATMENT FOR GRAIN PROTECTION AND THEIR EFFECTS ON SEED GERMINATION AND SEEDLING PERFORMANCE OF STORED MAIZE

Abstract

Apart from being known for having insecticidal activity, several plants and their materials also show effects on seed viability and plant growth. The crude acetone extracts from the seeds of Piper cubeba L, coriander, Coriandrum sativum L. and the shade dried leaves of the aquatic weed, Eichhornia crassipes Mart., wood-apple, Limonia acidissima L, the Indian Tamarind, Tamarindus indica L., the coconut palm, Cocos nucifera L., Indian Badam, Terminalia catappa L., the Indian Cherry Syzygium cumini L. and Ivy Gourd, Coccinia indica Wight& Arn. Were evaluated for finding their influence on germination capabilities and seedling growth of treated Zea mays L. seeds. The effect of extract on germination, root and shoot growth and inhibition of seed borne fungi Aspergillus flavus have been observed in Petri dish bioassays at a concentrations of 0.5, 1.25 and 2.5 mg /g maize seed. In general the extracts had no adverse affects on seed germination and the fungal growth was also quantitatively similar to that of the controls. Present investigation reveals the importance and potential of plant extracts and their allelopathic effects on stored grain.