Fungicides and Essential Oils for Controlling Maize Seed-Borne Fusarium moniliforme and its Transmission into Seedlings

Seed borne diseases are important constraints to maize production. Investigations were carried out to identify fungal infection of maize seed and determine its effect on seed germination. Studies on the effects of fungicides and essential oils from aromatic plants on the level of seed-borne F. moniliforme and its seed to seedling transmission were also part of the work. The control of seed to seedling transmission of F. moniliforme was achieved at 47% for the essential oils O. gratissimum and 31% for C. citratus. These control effects of the essential oils from O. gratissimum and C. citratus on F. moniliforme in maize seeds as well as the improvement in the germination disclosed the potential use of the 2 essential oils studied as seed treatment against fungi in maize.