DIVERSITY OF FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH LEAF SPOT ON SOME WILD PLANTS IN ZARIA, KADUNA STATE
Leaf spot is a common descriptive term applied to a number of diseases affecting the foliage of plants. Foliar diseases are one of the most important limiting factors for cultivation of crops in tropical and subtropical areas. Fungi associated with leaf spot symptoms on some wild plants (Chlorophytum blepherophyllum, Ipomoea nil, Trianthema portulacastrum, Senna singuena, Combretum molle, and Clematis hirsuta) were studied. Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) was prepared according to the manufacturer’s instructions and used throughout the study. Fungi were isolated by tissue plating method on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) containing streptomycin sulphate. Percentage occurrence of each fungal isolate was calculated. Pathogenicity test was carried out on the pathogenic fungi isolated in vitro using leaf disk method. Fungi isolated include: Nigrospora aerophila,Choanephora sp, Monocheatia sp, Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium equiseti. Percentage occurrence of fungi isolated from wild plants were determined with Nigrospora aerophila having the highest (23.08%) followed by Rhizoctonia solani (15.39%). This is the first report of Nigrospora aerophila in the Northern Guinea Savannah on wild plants. Six different types of leaf spot symptoms were observed on leaves of six wild plants which lead to identification of five fungal species which indicate that these wild plants serve as reservoir hosts of these fungi.
Keywords: Fungi, Leaf spot, Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), Wild plants
Correspondence: halima.ibrahim@kasu.edu.ng, 07034502167
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