Efficacy of palm kernel bunch extract against cucumber damping-off caused by sclerotium rolsfsii sacc

Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. is a very damaging plant pathogen that infects more than 500 plant species, resulting in substantial reductions in crop productivity. A field and laboratory studies were conducted at the Imo State University, Owerribotanical garden and Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology laboratory, to determine the effectiveness of oil palm fruit bunch extract against S. rolfsii. The pathogenicity test revealed that cucumber plants injected with S.rolfsii had symptoms of seedling damping -off.The mycelial growth suppression was most pronounced at a concentration of 2.5% (15.4mm), whilst the least inhibition was recorded at a concentration of 0.5% (28.32mm). The lowest number of sclerotia (140.12) was observed at a concentration of 2.5% extract, followed by a concentration of 1.5% (165.02), in comparison to the control (318.03).The disease severity was most pronounced in Week 4, (41.48%), while the lowest severity was recorded in Week 1(0.47%). Sterile water (Sw), showed the most severe disease symptoms, followed by the oil palm bunch extract, while mancozeb had the least severe disease symptoms. The study proposes that application of oil palm fruit bunch waste can efficiently address cucumber damping-off disease, hence encouraging an eco-friendly and sustainable management ofcucumber seedling damping -off disease.