Abstract
Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of three plant species; Alchornea cordifolia, Cassia alata and Moringa oleifera were tested for their abilities to control tomato fruit rot pathogens; Fusarium verticillioides and Macrophomina phaseolina in vitro and on infected fruits. Mycelial growth of the fungal pathogens was inhibited by both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of these plants. Ethanolic extracts induced significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher reduction in mycelial growth than aqueous extracts. Ethanolic extracts of M. oleifera induced 100% and over 70% reduction respectively, in mycelial growth of M. phaseolina. Mycelial growth of F. verticillioides was reduced by up to 69% by ethanolic extract of M. oleifera. Rot of infected fruits was also significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reduced by the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the test plants. Aqueous extracts of A. cordifolia gave better protection to infected fruits than ethanolic extracts. Extracts of these plants have potential for post-harvest control of tomato fruit rots.
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