Effect Of Sonic Plant Extracts And Pesticides In The Control Of Bacterial Leaf Blight. Disease Of Colocasla Caused By Xanthomona Campestris In Umudike, Abia State

ABSTRACT

A pot trial was conducted in the screen house of National Root Crop Research institute (NRCRi), Uniudike to determine the efficacy ol some plant extracts and pesticides in the control of bacterial leaf blight of cocoyam (Colaccisia e.sculentaut/i). The treatments employed include: Lemon grass (C'yinbopogon cl/rates), Black pepper seed (Piper guuineen.se), orange peel (Citrus' sinesis), streptomycin sulphate (bactericide), copper oxychoride (fungicide) and sterile water (control). The experiment was laid in complete randomized design (CRD) and replicated six times. The malerials used ssere lrst made into cold water aqueous extracts and diluted to I 0% concentration (s /v). Application on leaves were made using hand sprayer at two weekly intervals. Data obtained showed that ( 'i/ms sinensis peel had the least disease score (I . I 7cm) which di l'l'eied signi licani lv from the rest of the treatments at PO.O5. it was followed by Piper gu/1//IL'L'se (1:33 cm). all the extracts tested proved Superior to the control (sterile water), and were at a per with the two pesticides tested. Copper oxychloride gave (1 .67cm) and streptomycin (I .83 cm) in reducing disease and enhancing yield better than the control but one di lTereni from the extracts.