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4.1.4.2 Effect on plant fresh and dry weight of RKN inoculated plants
The data indicated that plant fresh weight varied depending on the different endophytic fungi treatments used with the most effective being Trichoderma
pseudokoningii, isolate XP 9 and Nigrospora sp leading to increased plant fresh
weights by 126.83 g, 124.50 g and 124.08 g respectively, while least mean plant fresh weights were observed in Ulocladium sp, and Fusarium sp3 that is 57.42 g and 56.17
g respectively. The data also indicated that plant dry weight varied depending on different species of endophytic fungi, with the most effective being Nigrospora sp,
isolate XP 9, Trichoderma pseudokoningii, Fusarium oxysporum, with dry weight of 42.75 g, 41.50 g, 41.33 g, 39.17 g respectively while the least significant endophytic
fungi treatments in increasing plant dry weight were Ulocladium sp, and Fusarium sp3 with mean dry weights of 18.67 g and 17.00 g respectively Table 6.
Table 6. Effect of endophytic fungi on plant fresh and dry weight Treatment Fresh
weight g Dry weight g
Trichoderma pseudokoningii 126.83 ± 16.74 a
41.33 ± 3.70 ab Isolate XP 9
124.50 ± 13.07 a 41.50 ± 1.93 ab
Nigrospora sp
124.08 ± 11.78 a 42.75 ± 1.96 a
Fusarium oxysporum 113.33 ± 13.44 b
39.17 ± 6.26 abc Sterile black 1
104.67 ± 9.72 bc 36.58 ± 5.68 c
Chrysosporium sp
101.17 ± 11.02 c 37.83 ± 4.15 bc
Torula sp
101.00 ± 7.41 c 36.08 ± 4.58 c
Fusarium chlamydosporum 99.08 ± 14.58 c
39.08 ± 3.63 abc Trichoderma hamatum
98.25 ± 16.22 c 37.92 ± 4.50 bc
Sterile black 2 84.25 ± 8.32 d
36.08 ± 4.54 c Ulocladium
sp 57.42 ± 10.66 e
18.67 ± 4.70 d Fusarium
sp 3 56.17 ± 9.75 e
17.00 ± 4.79 e Control Carbofuran
39.83 ± 7.16 f 20.83 ± 3.46 d
Control Nematodes only 29.33 ± 4.62 g
10.58 ± 2.43 f
Mean ± Standard deviation Means in the same column followed by the same letter are not significantly different at p0.05,
according to Duncan’s Multiple Range Test
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4.1.4.3 Effect on number of fruit and root length of RKN inoculated plant
The data on mean number of fruits indicated that the number of fruits were significantly increased by Nigrospora sp, isolate XP 9, Trichoderma pseudokoningii,
Chrysosporium sp, Fusarium chlamydosporum, and Trichoderma hamatum with
mean number of fruits of 13.08, 12.42, 12.33, 11.83, 11.33, and 11.17, respectively in that order, least mean number of fruits were observed in Ulocladium sp, and
Fusarium sp 3 that is 4.00 and 3.92 respectively Table 7.
The data also indicates that all isolates used were highly significant in increasing root length development in comparison to the control treatments, whereby
Nigrospora sp, isolate XP 9, Trichoderma pseudokoningii, Fusarium oxysporum, and
Fusarium chlamydosporum had the highest mean root length of 42.75 cm, 41.50 cm.
41.33 cm and 39.17 cm , respectively, least root length was observed in treatments with Ulocladium sp, and Fusarium sp3 that is 18.67 cm and 17.00 cm respectively
Table 7 and appendix 5. Table 7. Effect of endophytic fungi on number of fruits and root length
Treatments No. of fruits
Root length cm Nigrospora
sp 13.08 ± 1.24 a
42.75 ± 1.96 a Isolate XP 9
12.42 ± 2.43 ab 41.50 ± 1.94 ab
Trichoderma pseudokoningii 12.33 ± 1.67 ab
41.33 ± 3.70 ab Chrysosporium
sp 11.83 ± 1.90 abc
37.83 ± 4.15 bc Fusarium chlamydosporum
11.33 ± 2.87 abcd 39.08 ± 3.63 abc
Trichoderma hamatum 11.17 ± 2.52 abcd
37.92 ± 4.50 bc Torula
sp 10.42 ± 2.15 bcd
36.08 ± 4.58 c Sterile black 2
10.08 ± 2.58 cd 36.08 ± 4.54 c
Sterile black 1 10.00 ± 2.70 cd
36.58 ± 5.68 c Fusarium oxysporum
9.67 ± 2.81 d 39.17 ± 6.26 abc
Control Carbofuran 7.25 ± 2.74 e
20.83 ± 3.46 d Ulocladium
sp 4.00 ± 1.41 f
18.67 ± 4.70 de Fusarium
sp 3 3.92 ± 1.44 f
17.00 ± 4.79 e Control Nematodes only
1.17 ± 1.12 g 10.58 ± 2.43 f
Mean ± Standard deviation Means in the same column followed by the same letter are not significantly different at p0.05,
according to Duncan’s Multiple Range Test
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4.1.4.4 Effect on height and stem diameter of RKN free plants
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