Abstract :
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.
