Effect of Animal Manure on the Incidence and Severity of Leaf Spot Disease of Fluted Pumpkin (<i>Telfairia occidentalis</i>) in Dschang, West Region of Cameroon

Fluted Pumpkin known as Telfairia occidentalis is an important vegetable crop in the tropics, cultivated for its leaf vegetable and edible seeds. It is a plant with a wide range of virtues but nevertheless;it is threatened by large scale fungal attacks. In order to manage the problem of food security and meet up with the production of this crop, this study was carried out to assess the effect of animal manure on the incidence and severity of leaf spot disease of Fluted Pumpkin and to determine the pathogenicity test of white leaf spot in Dschang. This research was done in the Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences experimental farms at the University of Dschang from November 2017 to May 2018. The field layout was Randomized Complete Block Design with three treatments (poultry manure, piggery manure and control) and three replications. Each replicate consisted of six plots, giving a total of eighteen plots per treatment. In each treatment, fluted pumpkin was spaced at 1 m × 1 m apart. Application of organic manure was done at 3 weeks after emergence and data collection were carried out weekly from 42 DAP. Pathogenicity test was conducted after the establishment of lesions on the leaves. Data were analyzed using descriptive and ANOVA. It was observed that piggery manure treatment had the highest disease incidence (DI = 86.89) compared to the control (DI = 85.42) and poultry manure (DI = 65.74). The pathogenicity test revealed that Phoma sorghina was the causal agent for leaf spot disease in fluted pumpkin with a frequency of 18. Disease incidence and severity was reduced in poultry manure, followed by the control with piggery manure having more disease. Therefore, poultry manure had a better management option of leaf spot disease on fluted pumpkins compared to the other treatments.

Inhibitory Activities of Sole Cow Urine and Combined Cow Dung/Cow Urine against the Blight Disease of Ribwort (<i>Plantago lanceolata</i>) at the Cistercian Monastery in Mbengwi, Cameroon

Ribwort (Plantago lanceolata) is a small glabrous to pubescent perennial plant that is native to Europe, America, North Africa and Asia. Nowadays, it is cultivated in many countries across the globe, including Cameroon due to its extensive use in livestock and medicine. Unfortunately in Cameroon, however, the plant has been highly infested by blight, reducing its yield and medicinal value. To reduce blight infestation of ribwort and improve plant yields, we aimed to compare the efficacy of sole cow urine and combine cow dung/cow urine to inhibit blight disease caused by Phyllosticta ophiopogonis on ribwort. At the Cistercian Monastery in Mbengwi, Momo Division, Cameroon, we used a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 3 Blocks consisting of two treatments (cow dung mixed with cow urine (combine cow dung/urine) and sole cow urine) and one control. After spraying the different blocks of ribworts plants with combined cow dung/urine and sole cow urine at a dosage of 3% concentration, we found an incidence of blight disease of 32.8% and 35.0% on ribworts sprayed with combined cow dung/urine and sole cow urine, respectively, compared to 67.8% in the control. This implies that a mixture of cow dung/cow urine reduces the incidence of blight disease significantly. Furthermore, our pathogenicity test showed that Phyllosticta ophiopogonis (fungus) was responsible for the blight disease. Therefore, to increase ribwort growth, improve adaption and reduce Phyllosticta ophiopogonis fungal infestation in Cameroon, we recommend that the plant should be sprayed with a mixture of cow dung and cow urine at 3% concentration.