Abstract
This study was carried out to test the potency of both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of small and large Aframomum melegueta (alligator pepper) on the control of postharvest deterioration of lime (Citrus aurantifolia) and lemon (Citrus limonum) caused mostly by Aspergillus niger, Trichothecium roseum, Rhizoctonia species, Alternaria tenuis, Absidia ramose and Rhizopus stolonifer which were isolated from the fruits of lime and lemon. The fungal isolated were tested for its ability to cause the same disease condition in a healthy Citrus (C. limonum and C. aurantifolia).The extracts were concentrated at different range from 5-30 mg/ml. The study showed that the extracts of Aframomum melegueta were able to suppress fungi growth on Citrus aurantifolia and Citrus limonum. All the concentrations of the ethanolic extract of small A. melegueta were potent to all the organisms. The small seed ethanolic extracts were most effective on Rhizopus stolonifer while larege seed ethanolic extracts were most effective on Alternaria tenuis which recorded the highest zone of inhibition. I recommended that 5mg/ml concentration which has the highest zone of inhibition of the extract can be used as spray in controlling the postharvest deterioration of the citrus fruits. Therefore, they will serve as a good natural seed fungicide (protectant) against Citrus in storage.
Highlights
Aframomum melegueta is a tropical herbaceous perennial plant of genus Aframomum belonging to the family Zingiberaceae
Different fungi were successfully isolated from both Citrus aurantifolia and Citrus limonum, with the use of taxonomic and morphology references
The pathogens identified were Aspergillus niger, Trichothecium roseum, Rhizoctonia species, Alternaria tenuis, Absidia ramose and Rhizopus stolonifer, all of which were implicated as pathogens when tested on nine different fruits each of healthy Citrus aurentifolia and Citrus limonum
Summary
Aframomum melegueta is a tropical herbaceous perennial plant of genus Aframomum belonging to the family Zingiberaceae (ginger family). Alligator pepper has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of many diseases. Grains of Paradise, A. melegueta (Alligator pepper) has been elucidated using larvae of the Egyptian cotton leaf worm, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Leaf portions treated with either hexane or methanol fruit extracts showed strong dose-dependent antifeedant activities [1]. The hexane, methanol and most importantly water extracts of A. melegueta deterred feeding in third instars of one of the worldwide most important pests of cruiciferous crops, the diamond back moth Plutella xylostella L. The methanol and water extracts of the plant caused at least 80% mortality of second instars of the pest [2]
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