Thesis Abstract

Thesis Overview

Field experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research farm ofthe Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria Nsukka to comparethe activity of Cassia alata leaf extract with two synthetic chemicalfungicides applied as seed treatment on the field performance of Nsukkayellow pepper. Four accessions of Nsukka yellow pepper seeds were treatedwith Apron plus 50 Ds (34% furathiocarb + 10% metalaxyl + 6%carboxine) and Thiram (tetramety1 thioperoxydicarbonic diamide) each atthe rate of 30g/100kg of seeds while Cassia alata extracts was used fortreatment at the rate of 1ml/100g of seeds. The seedlings were transplantedinto the field 42 days after planting. Data were collected on agronomic

parameters.

Cassia alata compared favourably well with the syntheticchemical fungicide in all the agronomic parameters measured. There wereno significant differences between the effects of Cassia alata and thesynthetic fungicides on plant height at 50% anthesis, number of branchesand number of days to first anthesis. Cassia alata produced better result anddiffered significantly (p=0.05) with the synthetic chemicals in quantitativecharacter, such as number of leaves at 50% anthesis and number of flowersper plant. The leaf abscission rate was significantly (p=0.05) lower in Cassiaalata treated plants (10.1%) compared with Apron plus 50 Ds (10.32%) orThiram (11.79%). Cassia alata also reduced the number of days to 50%anthesis and number of days to first fruiting (111.7 and 112.7). Evidences inthis study show that, Cassia alata extract has potential as seed dressing

pesticide for Nsukka yellow pepper seeds.