Programme: Applied Biology
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Item Post-germination Application of Trichoderma asperellum for the Biocontrol of Macrophomina phaseolina in Cowpea(Tropical Journal of Natural Product Research Vol 9, Issue 12,, 2025) Oyesola, Olusola L.; Kinge, Tonjock R.; Kolade, Olufisayo A.; Obembe, Olawole O.Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) serves as a food source for humans and forage for animals. However, its production is affected by disease-causing fungi, of which Macrophomina phaseolina is a significant pathogen. Trichoderma was employed as a biofungicide to manage the disease in the screenhouse. Three strains of Trichoderma asperellum were isolated from the soil. The fungal spore suspensions of the Trichoderma strains were prepared, formulated into seven different treatment combinations, and applied to the cowpea potted soil five days after the germination of the cowpea to investigate their biocontrol ability on M. phaseolina and assess their effects on cowpea growth. The experiment's results showed that cowpea plants treated with T. asperellum differed significantly in plant height, stem girth, and leaf number compared to those treated with M. phaseolina alone (p < 0.05). Trt3 (54.6815 cm), Trt1 (54.0125 cm), and Trt5 (52.9375 cm) gave a higher plant height than in control 1 (M. phaseolina-treated cowpea - 44.9667 cm). Also, Trt7 (0.5413) and Trt3 (0.5258) gave a higher stem girth than in control 1 (M. phaseolina-treated cowpea - 0.3333 cm), while Trt6 (20.292) gave a higher leaf number than in control 1 (M. phaseolina-treated cowpea - 8.833). Additionally, Trt3 and Trt7 exhibited disease incidences of 22% and 67%, respectively, compared to control 1, which had a 100% incidence. Meanwhile, Trt7 showed 8% disease severity, compared to control 1, which had 100%. Therefore, post-germination Trichoderma application proved to be an effective strategy for controlling M. phaseolina, and it also has the potential to enhance cowpea biomass for sustainable food securityItem Evaluating Pre-Planting Trichoderma asperellum Application for Bocontrol of Macrophomina phaseolina in Screenhouse-Grown Cowpea(Tropical Journal of Natural Product Research, 2025) Oyesola, Olusola L.; Kinge, Tonjock R.; Kolade, Olufisayo A.; Obembe, Olawole O.Cowpea is recognised for its importance as a food and forage crop for animals. However, Macrophomina phaseolina, a fungus that causes pre-harvest crop loss, affects its production. In this study, Trichoderma was employed as an alternative to synthetic fungicides that negatively impact biodiversity to manage rot disease in cowpea. Three strains of Trichoderma asperellum were isolated from the soil. The spore suspensions of the Trichoderma strains were formulated into seven treatment combinations and applied to the cowpea soil before planting to investigate their biocontrol potential on M. phaseolina and their effects on cowpea biomass. The result showed that Trt3 (54.5417 cm), Trt1 (54.0625 cm) and Trt4 (52.8250 cm) had higher plant height than the negative control (M. phaseolina only (44.9667 cm)). Also, Trt7 (0.5446 cm) and Trt5 (0.5313 cm) had a higher stem girth performance than in the negative control (M. phaseolina only (0.3333 cm)), while Trt7 (24.958), Trt3 (21.417) and Trt6 (20.083) recorded a higher leaf number than in the negative control (M. phaseolina only (8.833)). Zero disease incidence was observed in Trt3 (0%) and Trt7 (0%) upon treatment with the Trichoderma formulations. Zero disease severity was recorded in Trt3 and Trt7 (0%), compared to the negative controls, which displayed 100% disease incidence and severity. The pre-planting Trichoderma application enhanced cowpea biomass and reduced disease incidence and severity compared to the negative control. Therefore, Trichoderma is an effective bioagent for controlling diseases caused by M. phaseolina in cowpea and stimulating its overall performance.