Abstract

One of the most significant cereal crops in the world is maize (Zea mays L.), which is susceptible to a number of illnesses, particularly those spread through seeds.  Plant extract research offers a viable area for replacement research for fungicides used to treat seeds. In order to evaluate its antifungal impact on the sanitary and physiological quality of maize seeds, this study examined the phytochemical profile of the hydroalcoholic extract from cashew apple powder. The EV8728-SR variety of seeds was utilized, and they were subjected to the following treatments: Control (untreated seeds), cashew apple powder at 1, 2, 4, and 8 g, and cashew apple powder at 1, 4 and 8 g. In an entirely random experimental design, the seeds were put through sanitation and germination tests. Alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, and saponins were found in the hydroalcoholic extracts of cashew apple powder, according to phytochemical prospecting. The cashew apple powder reduced the incidence of Aspergillus spp., including Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Cladosporium sphaerospermum, Fusarium moniliforme and Curvurlaria lunata at all concentrations compared to the control. It should also be noted that this powder positively affected seed viability with an improvement in seed germination rates (92-97%) after one month of treatment. These results represent sources of information for the implementation of an integrated control method against the fungal agents of maize seeds that cause the decline in its productivity.

Key words: Zea mays L., cashew apple, biofungicide, fungi, conservation.