Legume Hosts of Macrophomina phaseolina in Kenya and Effect of Crop Species on Soil Inoculum Levels

Studies were cotiducted in eastern Kenya to determine the common legume crop and weed hosts of Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid., the inciter of charcoal rot disease. The effect of maize, sorghum, bean, and cowpea on the soil inoculum level was also investigated after field inoculation. All the legume crops and weeds tested were found to be infected by the pathogen after artificial inoculation. Common bean, soybean, cowpea were the most susceptible while pigeonpea, green gram, and hyacinth bean were moderately susceptible. Groundnut, chickpea. Cassia spp. and Crotalaria spp. were least susceptible after artificial inoculation. Monocropping of sorghum, maize, cowpea and common bean for three consecutive crop seasons increased M, Phaseolina soil inoculum in ascending order.