Cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta L). is an important edible tuber crop, but taro leaf blight caused by Phytophthora colocasiae has been the greatest constraint to cocoyam production in Nigeria since 2009. Field trials were conducted to determine the effect of fungicides and the spray regimes on leaf growth, disease incidence, disease severity and tuber yield of cocoyam. The trials were carried out at the

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incidence and severity were non-significant (p > 0.05) at 90 and 120 days after planting respectively. The use of EOPBA as a soil amendment and for the control of cocoyam leaf blight diseases caused by Phytophthora colocasiae revealed that it has the potentials of promoting vegetative growth of cocoyam [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott.] grown in a degraded ultisol. This study also revealed that EOPBA does not have any significant effect (p > 0.05) in the control of cocoyam leaf blight incidence and severity. Application of 2 t ha -1 was found to be an optimal dose in the enhancement of cocoyam vegetative growth (leaf area index, number of leaves, stem girth and plant height respectively).

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Flea beetles (Podagrica spp.) have been a serious insect field pests of the family, Malvaceae or hibiscus crops most especially Okra in all growing nations. Field trial was conducted in the Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria to determine their relative effectiveness of synthetic systemic insecticides in field management of Podagrica spp. insect pests of Okra. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and treatments consisted of two synthetic systemic insecticides: Dimethoate 40EC and Carbofuran 5G and control with no insecticide application. Early maturing Clemenson spineless Okra variety, Jokoso was used. The results showed that there were no significant (P > 0.05) effects on Flea beetles population before insecticide treatments at 14 and 28 Days after planting (DAP). There was also no significant effect of insecticide application on fresh pod and dry pod weight (kg/plot) at harvest. However, significant differences (P < 0.05) were obtained on Flea beetles population, number of infected plants (%), fresh pod quality/marketable pods (%) throughout the sampling periods after insecticide application and also on seed viability test after harvest (%). In general, insecticides treated okra plants performed better than the untreated ones with Carbofuran 5G treated plants having the best performance.

The experiment was conducted in the Department of Horticultural Technology, Enugu State Polytechnic, Iwollo, Enugu state, Nigeria to determine the impact of hydro-priming duration on seed germination and emergence indices of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) in August, 2018. The treatments were 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours of hydropriming. The control treatment was left un-primed. Twenty seeds from each treatment were plated in Petri dish which contained two layers of filter papers that were wetted with 10 ml of distilled water and was used for the germination studies. Twenty seeds from each of the treatment were sown in 2 kg nursery medium (poly pot) with nursery mixture of soil, well cured poultry manure and sand in the ratio of 3:2:1, respectively and was used for the emergence studies. The experiment was laid in completely randomized design with three replications. Data on germination and emergence indices were collected and analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The treatment means that were significant were separated using least significant difference at 0.05 probability level. The results showed that hydro-priming significantly (p<0.05) increased germination percentage, coefficient of velocity of germination, coefficient of uniformity of germination, emergence percentage and coefficient of velocity of emergence with 18 hour having superior values and the least values were in control. Hydro-priming also significantly decreased mean germination time, mean emergence time, days to 50% germination and days to 50% emergence with the least values obtained in 18 hours and the highest values were in control. It can be concluded that hydro-priming significantly improved germination and emergence of sweet basil (O. basilicum). The optimal hydro-priming duration for sweet basil (O. basilicum) was 18 hours, which enhanced seed germination and emergence percentage, ensured early germination and seedling emergence, and increased uniformity of emergence.