ISSN 2360-7971
Abstract: Tomato is one of the important vegetable crops. The problem of seedling establishment is found in tomato due to several soil borne diseases. There are many chemical methods available to control these diseases but use of chemicals deplete the soil micro-environment and causes soil and water pollution and also do not fit within the framework of ‘Organic farming’. Seed priming with certain phytochemicals may be an economic and ecofriendly alternative to such chemicals. A study was conducted in Federal College of Horticulture Dadinkowa, Gombe State to study the effect of tomato seed priming with plant extracts. The experiment was laid in a completely randomized design (CRD) replicated three times. In present study, two sources of tomato seeds were primed with extracts of three different plants (Neem seeds, ginger and Cassia alata leaves) and mancozeb which served as a positive check. Different leaf extracts doses of 40% was taken independently for seed priming in the laboratory and nursery conditions. It was found that priming with neem seeds, ginger and Cassia alata, extract had an improvement in seed germination, survival and seedling growth parameters in both conditions. Priming with mancozeb however was most promising in reducing the effect of pathogens in all the parameters. Seed priming with neem extract exhibited highest germination and survival rate (43.33% and 74.00%) and (48.70% and 46.70%) in farmers seed in laboratory and nursery respectively.
Keywords: germination; laboratory; nursery plant extracts; priming