Effect of Seed Treatment with Imidacloprid, Metalaxyl-M and Tebuconazole (Dress Force) on Growth and Performance of Roselle (Hibbiscus sabdariffa L.) in Aliero, Kebbi State

Abstract

Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) is one of the most important Traditional Leafy Vegetables (TLVs) in the tropics and sub-tropics belonging to the Malvaceae Family. The crop is believed to have originated from Nigeria. An experiment was conducted during the 2023/2024 dry season at the Screen House of the Abdullahi Fodio University of Science and Technology, Aliero, Kebbi State, Nigeria, to evaluate the effects of different levels of Imidacloprid, Metalaxyl-M and Tebuconazole (Dress-force) on the growth and performance of Roselle plants in Aliero, Kebbi State. The treatments consisted of five (5) levels of Imidacloprid, Metalaxyl-M and Tebuconazole applied at 1.0 g, 2.0g, 3.0g, 4.0g, 5.0g, and 0.0 g (control. The treatments were laid out in a Complete Randomized Design (CRD) with six (6) replications. Data were collected on Plant Height, Number of Leaves, and Leaf Length. Data obtained were subjected to the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and significant means were separated using the Least Significant Difference (LSD) at a 0.05 probability level. Results revealed that there were significant statistical differences among the treatments except for the number of leaves at 4WAS and leaf length at 2WAS. It can be concluded that treatment 4.0g had the tallest Roselle Plant (18.80) at 2WAS over the 0.0g control (13.800). The research findings recommend the use of a moderate level of Imidacloprid, Metalaxyl-M and Tebuconazole as seed treatment for enhanced growth and performance of Roselle plant in the study area.