Inhibitory activity of plant extracts on the early blight pathogen &lt;i&gt;Alternaria solani&lt;/i&lt; growth

H Nahunnaro,I Bayaso

doi:10.4314/gjass.v11i1.10

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of two plant extracts, Ricinus communis and Chromolaena odorata on the control of the early blight pathogen, Alternaria solani (Ell. and Mart.). The study was conducted in the Laboratory of the Crop Production and Horticulture Department, Federal University of Technology, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria. A Completely Randomized Design (CRD) replicated three times was used. Three concentrations (25%, 50%, and 100%) of each plant extract were determined for inhibitory activity of A. solani growth. From the radial growth results, it revealed that Ricinus communis at 100 % concentration was recorded for the lowest radial growth rates of 1.43 cm, 2.00 cm and 2.72 cm at 24, 48 and 72 hours were recorded, respectively. It was concluded that the plant extracts used at different concentrations showed promising prospects for control Alternaria solani growth in vitro. However, it was recommended that there is a need to evaluate the inhibitory function of the plant extracts in the field to ascertain their effectiveness.

Highlights

The attempt to improve crop yield in order to produce enough food for consumption in the face of increasing population is a decision in the right direction it is being hampered by many constraints (Amusa et al, 1994).One of the most important and interesting problem encountered by scientists is how to drastically reduce or wholly prevent plant diseases
The highest radial growth values of 3.53 cm, 4.09 cm and 4.59 cm were recorded in the control while the lowest values, 1.57 cm, 2.16 cm and 2.88 cm for 24, 48 and 72 hours respectively were recorded for Ricinus communis with 100 % concentration (Table 1)
In the second experiment the treatment means showed that Ricinus communis 100 % concentration recorded the lowest radial growth with 1.30 cm, 1.83 cm and 2.55 cm at 24, 48 and 72 hrs respectively

Summary

Introduction

The attempt to improve crop yield in order to produce enough food for consumption in the face of increasing population is a decision in the right direction it is being hampered by many constraints (Amusa et al, 1994).One of the most important and interesting problem encountered by scientists is how to drastically reduce or wholly prevent plant diseases. There is increasing control methods such as resistant varieties and chemicals to control the diseases, the control has become a continual battle because the pathogens normally attack the crops suddenly (Akinbode and Ikotun, 2008). It has been reported that more than one hundred species of plant pathogens have become resistant to fungicides while some resistant varieties have become susceptible (Zitter et al, 2005). The effect of these pathogens with resistant traits has negative consequences on the crop producer. Alternaria solani has in no small measure contributed to the reduction in the yield of tomato both in the field and after harvest (Damicone et al, 1986)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion