Masters Dissertation
Buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris) is one of the important perennial grasses in the
pasture industry in Tanzania. It is drought tolerant, nutritious and has rapid growth
characteristics. Three hundred sixty grams of seed samples of C. ciliaris collected
from six selected pasture seed farms were screened for seedborne microorganisms at
the African Seed Health Centre, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro
Tanzania. The Blotter method, the direct plating and the Top of Paper methods were
used for fungal, bacterial and seed germination tests, respectively. Fungal and
bacteria pathogens of economic importance that were detected included; Phoma spp
(28.5 %), Curvularia lunata (17.34 %), Alternaria alternata (14.09 %) Bipolaris spp.
(12.2 %), Acidovorax, Xanthomonas and Pseudomonas spp. Characterization using
morphological and biochemical tests including molecular techniques and
pathogenicity of fungal and bacteria strains were done on buffelgrass seedlings.
Results indicated that seed germination decreased (<50%) with an increase in fungal
infection. Seed samples from LITI Tengeru had the lowest seed germination (8 %)
and high fungal (37.8 %) incidence on their caryopses. Pathogenicity of Bipolaris
spp., Phoma spp., Pyricularia grisea, Fusarium pallidoroseum, Exserohilum
rostratum, Nigrospora oryzae and Acidovorax, Pseudomonas and Xanthomonas
bacterial strains were confirmed on C. ciliaris seedlings. Some species of the
detected fungi were found in both spikelets and caryopses. Further research is needed
on losses caused by fungal infection in buffelgrass seeds
Commission for Science Technology COSTECH