Seasonality of the mycoflora of the crown disease complex of the vegetative organs of the grapevine Vitis vinifera cvar Anap-e-Shahe

The mycoflora associated with lesions on the vegetative organs of Anap-e-Shahe cultivar of grapevine in Zaria were monitored for 3 years. The symptoms varied with the seasons but were the same over theyears studied. The mycoflora detected on the lesions were consistent with the symptoms. Except for pruning interruptions, Epicoccum sp., Penicillum sp., Aspergillus sp. and Curvularia sp. was regularlydetected on lesions of all growth seasons. Alternaria sp., Drechslera sp. and Pestalotiopsis aff. uvicola occurred only on lesions of the rainy season growths. Phoma aff. multirostrata, Colletotrichumgloeosporioides, Phomopsis sp. and Phoma sp. were the dominant group on lesions of rainy season growth and were detected from the beginning of the rains in May until the close of the rains in October,which corresponded with the prevailing period of anthracnose, tip die back, commencement of canker development and blight. The occurrence of Plasmopara viticola commenced during the downy mildewepiphytotic late in July or early August, a time which corresponded with high relative humidity and a drop in maximum temperature at the peak of the rains. P. viticola and Curvularia sp. with other regularlyoccurring fungi detected from the late rainy season persisted into the dry season. The seasonal variability in the mycoflora of the crown disease complex of grapevine provided information whichcould be exploited in disease diagnosis and management

PROTEIN CONTENTS OF MAIZE VARIETIES AS INFLUENCED BY NITROGEN AND MICRONUTRIENTS

Field experiments were conducted in 2008 and 2009 in the Guinea Savanna ecology of Nigeria to investigate the protein content of maize varieties (Quality Protein Maize QPM and normal varieties) as influenced by nitrogen fertilizer and micronutrients. The treatments were four rates of inorganic fertilizer N (0, 50, 100, 150kgNha-1) and two rates of cocktail micronutrient (Fe, Zn, B, Mo, and Cu). These were tested in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications and the treatments were laid out in factorial design. The results from the study revealed that micronutrients rate of 22.85g/ha applied increased the lysine and tryptophan content of the QPM varieties. The result also showed that addition of nitrogen fertilizer and micronutrients increased the crude protein content of the maize varieties and so also with micronutrients addition the QPM varieties differed significantly from each other with respect to lysine and tryptophan contents (P< 0.05). It can be inferred from this that though normal maize and QPM varieties could be exposed to the same environmental conditions and take up same amounts of micronutrients, the QPM varieties have genetic capacity to synthesize high levels of amino acids and so would have nutritionally higher quality grains. Plant breeders therefore may find this attribute useful in genetic manipulation and cultivar development to enhance protein biochemical component

Effects of Cow Dung on the Growth and Development of Maize Crop Effects of Cow Dung on the Growth and Development of Maize Crop

ABSTRACT Greenhouse and Field experiments were conducted at the Institute for Agricultural Research and Samaru College of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The objectives of the experiments were to evaluate the combine effects of cow dung subjected to different management practices and Urea fertilizer on some Maize growth parameters and to observe the residual effects of the cow dung in the second year. The experiment was a factorial experiment, 3 management practices, 4 duration of storage, and 2 nitrogen levels, laid out in a Randomized complete block design and replicated three times. The Greenhouse study revealed that, combining cow dung subjected to different management practices (pit covered May and surface heaped uncovered June) and Urea at 45 kg N ha -1 gave significantly (P < 0.05) higher dry matter yield and surface heaped covered April treatment gave taller plants, which were statistically at par with NPK treatment (120 kg N ha -1 ). The results of the field studies for the two years were consistent on the dry matter yield and plant height. The field studies showed that, the direct effect, N amended surface heaped covered April gave the highest Maize Stover yield for the two seasons, while on the residual effect, N amended, the surface heaped uncovered March treatments gave the highest stove yields. On plant height, the direct effect N amended surface heaped uncovered May treatments gave significantly taller plants than all other treatments in the two seasons. While on the residual effect, the surface heaped covered April treatment was the one that gave taller plants in the two seasons