DEVELOPMENT OF SHOT-HOLELEAF SPOT ON FIELD GROWN FLUTED PUMPKIN

ABSTRACT

Fluted Pumpkin ( Telfairia occidentalis) was cultivated on the agricultural farm of Benson Idahosa University. Tillage and weeding was done biweekly while watering was carried out weekly. The study examined the shot-hole leaf spot on field grown T.occidentalis and reports on its severity. Disease severity was rated as follows; leaflets with 5-10 spots per leaf, severe infection were leaflets with 30-150 spots per leaf. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance. The results of the field trials showed that there is no significant difference at week 6 where t-calculated = 2.424 is less than t-critical = 3.182 for staked and unstaked, also there is no significant difference as seen in week 8 and 10 where the t-calculated = 0.2967 and 0.5941 respectively where t-critical = 3.182 between staked and unstaked plants. For the number of shot – hole leaf spots per leaflets on shoots of 3 months old plants there were no significant difference (F-value equals 1,F-critical equals 4.41) due to the fact that F-critical is greater than F-value between the staked and unstaked plants.These findings suggest that staking does not influence the development of the shot-hole leaf spot on field grown fluted pumpkin.