Antifungal Effects of Leaf Extracts of Three Plant Species against Colletotrichum Musae the Causal Agent of Anthracnose Postharvest Disease of Banana Fruits.

Abstract

The antifungal effects of Azadirachta indica, Calotropis procera and Anacardium occidentale plants extracts were assessed on Colletotrichum musae the pathogen of anthracnose disease of banana fruit. The phytochemical constituents of the extracts were determined and agar well diffusion method was used to assess the toxicity at 50mg/ml, 100mg/ml and 150mg/ml against the pathogen isolated from banana with anthracnose disease symptoms. The phytochemical analysis results revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponnin, tannins, anthocyannin, phenolic acid and flavonoids. All the extracts inhibited mycelia growth of Colletotrichum musae which increased with increase in concentration and days of incubation. At the end of incubation period, the order of decrease in inhibition was control< 50mg/ml <100mg/ml <150mg/ml. The extract from C. procera gave the highest percentage growth inhibition while A. indica extracts was the least. Therefore, the extracts showed a wide range of antifungal activities against C. musae and could be cheaper substitute for conventional fungicide.