ABSTRACT

This research was carried out to investigate the effect of soursop leaves on the growth of tomatoes. The soursop leaves was grounded with a manual grinding machine (Corona Manual Grain Mill) into powder state and was stored at 28±2 ^oC for 18hrs before use. The soil sample was thoroughly mixed and was shared into 48 bowls. Each bowls containing 4kg. Six groups of experimental pots were prepared of labeled as Group 1, Group 2, Group 3, Group 4 and Group 5 and Group 6 was  grinded  soursop leaves was added as 0g (Control), 2g, 3g, 4g, 5g and 10g respectively. Twenty seeds of Solanum Lycopersicum or was planted in each bowl. Planting was done at 1-2cm depth. Planting was done in the cool evening. The growth parameters such as percentage germination, number of leaves and the height of tomatoes plant and the effect on the biochemical parameter of tomatoes plant such as Catalase, Gluthathione Peroxidase (GPX), and Malondialdehyde (MDA). The germination percentage indicated at Day 0 – 5 of planting the application of soup leaves at 5 g had the highest germination percentage in bowl 4 and 5 (38%) each, the lowest germination percentage was observed in 10g application with germination percentage of 1% and 2% in bowls 1 and 4 respectively which was lesser than the control. In Day 6 – 10, the highest germination percentage was observed in 2g at 95% and 90% in bowl 2 and 3, the lowest was observed in 10g application 21% each in bowl 1 and 4. While in Day 10 – 15, in the control (0 g) in bowl all the seed germinated at 100%, in 2g bowls 1 and 2 had 99% germination each, the lowest germination percentage was also observed in 10g application of soursop leaves with 36% germination percentage. The number leave of tomatoes plants was also observed as the plant continues to grow. In Day 0 – 5, the highest number of leaves grown was 3 which as observed in 0 g bowl 3, 2g bowl 2 and 3. while  0 g, bowl 1, 3 g bowl 4, no leaf was observed. In Week 6 – 10 control (0g) had the highest number of leaves of 5 in bowl 4, while  0 g, bowl 1, 3 g bowl 4, no leaf was observed. In Week 11 – 15, highest number of leaves was observed in control (0g) in bowl 4 with 14 leaves followed by 4g bowl 3 with 6 leaves and the lest number of leaves was observed in while  0 g, bowl 1, 3 g bowl 4, no leaf was observed.  The effect of soursop leaves on the plant height of tomatoes was observed, the highest heights Day 0 – 5 was in observed in 3g bowl 3 8.20±0.11 and bowl 1 8.20±0.11 the lowest was observed in 10 g bowl 4, 2.00±0.00. Day 6 – 10, the highest was observed in 5g bowl 4, 8.93±2.23 lowest in 10g bowl 4, 2.74±0.10 and in Day 11 – 15, the highest plant height was in 3g bowl  2 9.96±0.09 followed by  3g  bowl 2, 9.62±0.13 and the lowest was observed in 10 g bowl 4, 3.00±0.00.   The Catalase activities across the control and the treated groups indicates that there was significant difference across the groups since p≤ 0.05, except from 2 g and 4 g treatment which have similar subscript.  In the measurement of plant height, number of leaves and germination percentage, it was observed that at lower concentration of application of soursop leaves to the tomatoes performed more better than the higher concentrations there is, the soursop leaves significantly influence the germination and growth tomatoes at lower concentrations.