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Rice blast disease, caused by a seed-borne fungus Pyricularia grisea, is an important and serious
disease of rice (Oryza sativa L.) worldwide. The disease has been reported to cause yield losses of
up to 40% in Tanzania. Studies were conducted to determine the effect of aqueous extracts of Aloe
vera, Allium sativum, Annona muricata, Azadirachta indica, Bidens pilosa, Camellia sinensis, Chrysanthemum
coccineum, processed Coffee arabica, Datura stramonium, Nicotiana tabacum and Zingiber
officinalis for control of rice blast disease (Pyricularia grisea) in-vitro and in-vivo. The results
indicate that processed C. arabica at 10% and 25% (v/v) had the highest (81.12%) and (89.40%)
inhibitory effect, respectively, against P. grisea. Aqueous extract from N. tabacum at 10% concentration
ranked third (80.35%) in inhibiting P. grisea. These were followed by extracts from 25% A.
vera (79.45%) and 25% C. coccineum flower (78.83%). The results also indicate that, extracts from
A. indica, A. vera, A. sativum, C. arabica, D. stramonium, C. sinensis, Z. officinalis and N. tabacum did
not have any phytotoxic effect on seed germination, shoot height, root length, dry weight, seedling
growth and seedling vigour index. These plant extracts can thus be used for rice seed treatment to
manage rice blast disease. |
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