Macrophomina phaseolina infection on stomatal features of leaves of Ipomoea batatas
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Date
2017
Authors
Samuel, T. O.
Kadiri, A. B.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
Abstract
The effect of Macrophomina phaseolina causing leaf spot disease on Ipomoea batatas was found to
affect the chlorophyll content and yield of Ipomoea batatas. Koch’s postulate was employed to
ascertain the pathogenicity of the test fungus [1× 106 spores per ml, 1× 107 spores per ml and 1× 108
spores per ml] to cause leaf spot disease on Ipomoea batatas. The effect of leaf spot diseases on
anatomical features of the test plants were assessed through stomatal size, density and index was
assessed. Results revealed the reduction in stomatal number and distribution thereby resulting in
significant reduction in the stomatal size, density and index on adaxial and abaxial surfaces of affected
plant leaves compared to healthy plant leaves. The plants leaves treated with test fungus spore
suspension concentration of 1× 108 spores per ml showed the smallest stomatal size value of 1.08 μm at
both adaxial and abaxial surfaces compared to the control plant leaves [healthy plant leaves] with 1.17
μm at both surfaces. Stomatal index value was 8.33 mm-2 and 9.63 mm-2 at adaxial and abaxial
surfaces compared to the control plant leaves with 11.28 mm-2 and 11.96 mm-2 respectively. The
stomatal density of 3.6 mm-2 and 4.5 mm-2 at adaxial and abaxial surfaces compared to the control
plant leaves with 5.0 mm-2 and 6.0 mm-2 respectively. This study showed that the degree of severity of
the leaf spot diseases varied with fungal spore suspension concentration.
Description
Keywords
Fungal spores , Ipomoea batatas , leaf spot disease , stomata
Citation
Samuel, T. O. and Kadiri, A. B. (2017). Macrophomina phaseolina infection on stomatal features of leaves of Ipomoea batatas. Nigerian Journal of Scientific Research 16(2): 254 - 257