Abstract
The control of fungal pathogens of economic crops in soil is crucial to sustainable food production and distribution. In this study, the effect of aqueous fractions of petroleum hydrocarbons was investigated on the growth and sporulation of Botryodiplodia theobromae (Pat.), a common fungal pathogen isolated from rotten cassava tubers. The fungal isolates were subjected to graded concentrations of the water-soluble fraction (WSF) of crude oil and monitored for their effects on the mycelial growth and spore germination using standard mycological media and techniques. Results revealed that the biological effects of the chemical fraction were concentration dependent and significant at P = 0.01 and 0.05 when compared with the controls. After 5 h, the least inhibitory effect against the spore germination was observed by the 1 mL WSF concentration with 87% spore germination. The effects were significantly different (P 0.05) at higher concentrations. Findings from this study suggest that aqueous soluble fractions of petroleum hydrocarbons can significantly inhibit the spores and mycelium growth of B. theobromae (Pat.). Thus, they could be exploited as template for biosynthesis of potential fungicide against the test phytopathogens.
Highlights
Botryodiplodia theobromae (Pat.) (Griff. and Maubl.), is a common soil-borne fungal pathogen with the sexual and asexual stages respectively referred to as known as Physalospora rhodina (Berk. & Curt. apud Cooke) and Botryosphaeria rhodina
The water-soluble fraction of petroleum hydrocarbon refers to the faction of hydrocarbon that dissolved partially or completely in aqueous solution
The effect of aqueous soluble fraction of petroleum hydrocarbon on the spore germination and mycelial growthof B. theobromae was investigated with a view to sourcing for a novel antifungal template for selective control of fungal pathogens
Summary
Botryodiplodia theobromae (Pat.) (Griff. and Maubl.), is a common soil-borne fungal pathogen with the sexual and asexual stages respectively referred to as known as Physalospora rhodina (Berk. & Curt. apud Cooke) and Botryosphaeria rhodina Most of the crops reportedly attacked and reduced economically by these pathogens include various tubers crops, fruits and vegetables. The crops mostly attacked by the spores of B. theobromae (Pat.) are those with mechanical injury or weakened structural and physiological defenses, thereby making them important opportunistic pathogens of plants. They have been reported to cause die-back pod rot of cocoa, stem end rot of banana fruits, stem end rot of mango, stem end rot of pawpaw, leaf spot rot of citrus, collar rot of peanuts, storage rot of cassava, storage rot of potatoes and tuber rots of yams [2,3,4,5]
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