Effect of Fungicides on Pathogens associated with Basal Stem Rots of Cowpea in Nigeria

Nine fungicides tested in vitro inhibited the growth of all pathogens associated with basal stem rots at 200 ppm active ingredient except chloroneb and mancozeb which were ineffective on Pythium aphanidermatum. Thiram + BHC, captafol, captan, thiram and fentin hydroxide gave effective control of pre-emergence damping-off caused by P. aphanidermatum and Corticium rolfsii in cowpea seeds, but failed to control post-emergence damping-off in the glasshouse. Soil drench with an aqueous suspension of thiram, thiram + BHC and captan controlled both pre- and post-emergence damping-off. In field trials, however, there was no significant difference between seed dressing alone and a combination of seed dressing and soil drench both in terms of percentage plant survival and grain yield.