Plant Pathology Journal1812-53871812-5425Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/ppj.2018.95.101Abelmoschus esculentus]]>B. AkporOghenerobor M. OlubaOlarewaju 22018172Background and Objective: Accomplishing fast and uniform seedling development is strategic for crop vigour because delayed germination regularly open seedlings to unfavorable ecological conditions and soil-borne diseases. This study was aimed at assessing the germinability enhancement and protective potentials of leaf decoctions of four selected plants (Chromolaena odorata, CO; Nauclea latifolia, NL, Ipomoea asavifolia, IP and Moringa oleifera, MO) in comparison to hydrogen peroxide (HP), normal saline suspended cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) and water (control) against selected fungal pathogens (Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium and Aspergillus niger) on Abelmoschus esculentus (okra). Materials and Methods: Surface sterilized seeds of Abelmoschusesculentus were soaked in the fungal pathogens for 1 h before being steeped in a given concentration of the respective decoctions for another 1 h and then planted on wet blotter for 7 days while monitoring the germination parameters. Results: The highest germination rates of 64.23 and 64.29% were observed when the seeds were primed with 5-fold dilution of CO and IP, respectively. However, germination was highest (64.28%) at 2-fold and 5-fold dilutions when primed with MO while HP-primed seed gave the germination rate was 92.86%. For seeds primed with the PA, germination rate of 71.42% was observed in the undiluted and 5-fold dilutions. The optimum soaking time was observed to be between 3 and 6 h, when the seeds were primed with the different decoctions. Following pre-treatment of the seeds with the fungal pathogens prior to priming with the different osmotica, germination rate reduced to 50%. This is significant compared to no growth observed in infected seeds without priming. Conclusion: Priming with decoctions of CO, IP and MO as well as HP and PA significantly improve germinability and confer protection against fungal infection. Thus, scale-up to field trials using CO, IP and MO decoctions, as well as HP and PA as bio-fungicide prior to planting for protection of okra seeds, seems justified as a sustainable alternative to the use of chemical fungicides.]]>Bateman, G.L. and H. Kwasna,199913271282Khanzada, K.A., M.A. Rajput, G.S. Shah, A.M. Lodhi and F. Mehboob,20021441444Coskuntuna, A. and N. Ozer,2008Trichoderma harzianum and induction of antifungal compounds in onion set following seed treatment.]]>27330336Islam, M.R. and M.B. Meah,2011Phomopsis vexans with eggplant (Solanum melongena) seeds, seedlings and its management.]]>9817Celar, F. and N. Valic,2005Trichoderma spp. and Gliocladium roseum culture filtrates on seed germination of vegetables and maize.]]>112343350Perello, A., M. Gruhlke and A.J. Slusarenko,201353317323Pak, L.,20032003Nguefack, J., J. Torp, V. Leth, J.B. Dongmo, D. Fotio and P.H.A. Zollo,20078791796Suriyavathana, M., V. Usha and M. Shanthanayaki,20103260262Pal, G.K. and P. Kumar,201327275Sen, B.,200053243249Ilori, O.J., O.O. Ilori, R.O. Sanni and T.A. Adenegan-Alakinde,2011Chromolaena odorata on the growth and biomass accumulation of Celosia argentea.]]>5200204Mousavi, S.H., K.H. Alami-Saeid and A. Moshatati,2013Melilotus indicus) on seed germination and seedling growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum).]]>54449Moosavi, A., R.T. Afshari, A. Asadi and M.H. Gharineh,2011Vigna radiata L.]]>3114118Phuwiwat, W., W. Wichittrakarn, C. Laosinwattana and M. Teerarak,2012Melia azedarach L. leaf extracts on seed germination and seedling growth of two weed species.]]>18485492Prabha, D., S. Negi, P. Kumari, Y.K. Negi and J.S. Chauhan,201644651Nouman, W., M.T. Siddiqui and S.M.A. Basra,2012Moringa oleifera leaf extract: An innovative priming tool for rangeland grasses.]]>366575Basra, S.M.A., M. Farooq, R. Tabassam and N. Ahmad,2005Oryza sativa L.).]]>33623628Murungu, F.S.,2011Triticum aestivum L.) varieties in laboratory assays and in the field.]]>1043654371Murungu, F.S., C. Chiduza, P. Nyamugafata, L.J. Clark and W.R. Whalley,2004402336Sajjan, A.S., M.S. Dhanelappagol and R.B. Jolli,2017Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.].]]>40173177