Antifungal effects of selected botanicals on fungal pathogens of watermelon fruit

Abstract

This study investigates the use of botanical extracts (Piper guineense, Xylopia aethiopica and Bambusa vulgaris at 5, 10 and 15% concentration levels) for controlling deteriorating fungal pathogens in vitro. Identification of the fungal pathogens after pathogenicity test reaffirm isolates identity as Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium verticillioides and Botryodiplodia theobromae. All the fungal pathogens induced rot in the watermelon fruit. The botanical extracts were best effective at high concentration levels (10 and 15%), though varied in their inhibitory activity. P. guineense and X. aethiopica were observed to be more effective than B. vulgaris. This study showed the efficacy of the botanical extracts on deteriorating fungal pathogens of watermelon fruit. Thus, the botanical extracts can be employed as antideteriorating biological-based fungicides for watermelon fruits.