Mechanisms Of Seed Transmission Of Bacterial Blight Of Cowpea (Xanthomonas Axonopodis Pv. Vignicola) (Burkholder) Dye

📄 Project Abstract

Understanding transmission mechanisms of cowpea bacterial blight Xanthomonas axonopodis pv vignicola (Xav) from seed to seedling will form the bases for appropriate control measure to be initiated. In order to study the parts of seed where the pathogen usually colonize, three methods were used (seed washing and seed plating) were used to detect the external borne pathogens while the third (separation of seed into components and maceration) were used to detect the internally borne pathogen. The results showed that hilum was the most colonized part of the seeds. The embryo colonization was low and there was no Xav detected on cotyledons. In order to study the populations build up in vivo and symptom manifestation, seed samples were collected from various sources to reflect the various ways farmers obtain seeds (local markets, seed companies, research institute and treated seeds with fungicides). Fungicides had no significant effect on the pathogen survival and pathogenicity. There was si...