TITLE:
Seed Borne Fungal Organisms Associated with Germination Success of Terminalia brownii (Fresen) in Kenya
AUTHORS:
Jackline Atieno, Gilbert O. Obwoyere, Dickson L. Makanji, Michael M. Okeyo
KEYWORDS:
Seed Borne Fungal Organisms, Germination Success, Terminalia brownii
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Forestry,
Vol.11 No.4,
September
24,
2021
ABSTRACT: Terminalia brownii is an indigenous tree species
highly valued in the Kenyan drylands for its products such as timber for wood
curving, medicine, and charcoal production, among others. Due to this high
value followed by overutilization, its population in the drylands is dwindling.
Concern about the species’ low
regeneration as shown by low germination has been raised. This research was
conducted on the seed borne fungal organisms that are associating with the
germination of this
species. T. brownii seeds were collected from cluster patches of the species in
Kendu Bay, Kimose and Ndumoni in Homabay, Baringo and Kitui counties of Kenya
respectively. The seeds were harvested for fruit probing for maturity
confirmation. Random sampling was used in selecting thirty trees, 50 meters
apart, from which fresh fruits were uniformly collected from the crowns. The
research adopted a complete block experimental design where one hundred seeds
each from the three sites, were subjected to a germination test, seed borne
fungal organisms’ presence, identified organisms cultured and DNA and DNA
sequencing carried out for identification. Fungal organisms associated with
germination success of T. brownii were Fusarium equiseti, Pestalotia sp, and Alternaria alternata. Paired t test run
between germinants versus the number of sown seeds gave N = 12, p-value of 0.000, t =
16.29. On the other hand, paired t test run between fungal infected seeds with
the number of germinants gave N = 12, p-0.000, t = 8.78. Fungi associated with
germinants included Penicillium sp, and the data analyzed using Mann-Whitney U test run showed
significant difference at a p value of 0.000. Identified organisms associating
with none germination and germination success on the other hand were analyzed using
descriptive analysis. Fungal organisms associating with germination success of T. brownii significantly affect germination of freshly extracted seeds from the field,
hence, for
maximum germination achievement, seeds should be sown while still fresh.