Antifungal In-Vitro Effects of Ethanol and Acetone Extracts of Aframomum Melequeta Lin. and (Azadirachta Indica Lin.) on Seedborne Fungal Pathogen (Fusarium Solani) of Sweet Pepper (Capsicum Annum Lin.) in Awka, Anambra State Nigeria

Abstract

The use of plant extract in the control of seed borne fungal pathogen has been found to be economically and environmentally friendly and as well as easily biodegradable. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of plant extracts, Alligator pepper (Aframomum melegueta) and Neem (Azadirachta indica) on the seed borne fungal pathogen of sweet pepper Capsicum annum (Otuocha and Nsukka). Capsicum annum seeds were extracted for seed health test using blotter paper method. Seed borne fungal pathogen (Aspergillus spp. Fusarium spp.) were identified. The potential for these organisms for pathogenicity were tested using Kock’s postulate. The antifungal effects of ethanol and acetone extracts of the test plants were studied under in- vitro experiment against the seed borne fungal pathogen (Fusarium solani) of Capsicum annum at 0%, 50% and 75% concentration using synthetic fungicide (Benlate) as a standard control. The design was a 3x3 factorial laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. Data collected were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means were separated with Fishers’ Least Significant Difference (FLSD) at 5% probability level. Ninety percent germination was obtained in the viability test of Nsukka pepper. The result of the pathogenicity test showed that the organisms isolated were pathogenic. All plant extracts (Aframomum melegueta) and Neem (Azadirachta indica) and Benlate inhibited radial growth of the test fungus. Azadirachta indica and Benlate inhibited the growth of Fusarium solani for three days in culture, though Azadirachta indica performed better than Benlate. The inhibition was also greater as concentration increased from 50% to 75% concentration level. The result of this study showed that the plant extract Azadirachta indica, which is naturally more abundant and readily available could be explored as an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic fungicide (Benlate) in the control of Fusarium solani on sweet pepper varieties since it performed as much as the synthetic fungicide.