Evaluation of potential botanicals (Virnonia amygdalina and Ipomoea batatas) on the post-harvest quality characteristics of farmer-saved seed maize (Zea mays L.)
| dc.contributor.author | Mohammed, Sulley | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-07-14T14:41:10Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-07-14T14:41:10Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2015-12 | |
| dc.description | A thesis submitted to the school of research and graduate studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of science and technology in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Award of Masters of Philosophy Degree in Postharvest Technology | |
| dc.description.abstract | ABSTRACT This study was conducted in order to evaluate the potentials of two botanicals, bitter leaf (Virnonia amygdalina) and sweet potato leaf (Ipomoea batatas) on the postharvest quality characteristics of farmer-saved seed maize (Zea mays L.) collected from respondents in the study areas, that is, Ejura, Sekyedumasi and Nkoranza communities. The seeds were treated with the tested botanical materials and stored for a period of four (4) months. The plant extracts, also called botanicals were compared with a synthetic chemical (Insector T45) dust, as a standard, and without chemical treatment as controls The same rates, 5.0% w/w,of each of the two plant extracts in powdered form and a synthetic chemical (Insector T45) at the rate of 0.25% w/w were admixed with one hundred grams seed lots of each of the five different seed maize varieties obtained across the study areas and packaged into high density polythene bags. Seed treatment with synthetic chemical and another without chemical treatment were used as a comparative control for the plant extract treatment. Results showed that all the two tested botanicals, Virnonia amygdalina and Ipomoea batatas have the ability to protect the seed maize quality characteristics during storage. This present finding or study recommend ground powder of bitter leaf (Virnonia amygdalina) and sweet potato leaf (Ipomoea batatas) as a good substitute to the synthetic chemical, insector T45, as a seed maize preservative during storage. The results are also discussed on the need to use plant extracts by resource poor small scale maize farmers as a sustainable and cost effective treatment application of stored seed maize as an alternative to synthetic chemical application treatment of seed maize during storage | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | KNUST | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://ir.knust.edu.gh/handle/123456789/17447 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | KNUST | |
| dc.title | Evaluation of potential botanicals (Virnonia amygdalina and Ipomoea batatas) on the post-harvest quality characteristics of farmer-saved seed maize (Zea mays L.) | |
| dc.type | Thesis |