Abstract
The study investigated the in-vitro antifungal activities of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and leaf extracts of Vernonia amydgalina (bitter leaf) and Azadirachta indica (neem) on fungal species isolated from two cowpea cultivars; IFE BROWN and Drum (a local cultivar). Concentrations of 1.95 mg/ml and 1.43 mg/ml were used for A. indica while 1.45 mg/ml and 1.15 mg/ml were used for V. amydgalina. Sodium bicarbonate was evaluated on all the isolates at 2.0 mg/ml and 3.0 mg/ml. The inhibitory effects of these antifungal agents were compared with benlate (a synthetic fungicide) on Potato Dextrose Agar. Benlate totally inhibited all the fungal isolates. Candida species isolated from the two cowpea cultivars were greatly inhibited by the antifungal agents while Trichoderma species isolated from IFE BROWN was the least inhibited. The inhibitory effects of NaHCO3 and A. indica on Candida spp. were not significantly different and values ranged from 74.5% to 84%. The two concentrations of A. indica had better inhibitory effect on Pythium spp. than NaHCO3. Vernonia amydgalina at 1.45 mg/ml inhibited A. niger and Candida spp. by 83.75% and 87.5% respectively while NaHCO3 at 2.0 mg/ml inhibited Rhizopus stolonifer isolated from Drum by 75%. The study concludes that the two plant extracts and sodium bicarbonate had broad spectrum activities on fungal species and are therefore recommended as alternatives to toxic and synthetic fungicides.Keywords: Cowpea, eco-friendly, fungicide, inhibition
Highlights
This study evaluated the inhibitory effects of the leaf extracts of two plants (Azadirachta indica and Vernonia amygdalina) and an inorganic salt; sodium bicarbonate on fungal species isolated from cowpea seeds
Evaluation of the efficacies of plant extracts and sodium bicarbonate against fungal isolates: The inhibitory effects of the leaf extracts of Azadirachta indica at 1.95mg/ml and1.43mg/ml were tested against fungal species isolated from IFE BROWN variety while Vernonia amygdalina at 1.45 mg/ml and 1.15 mg/ml were tested on the fungal species isolated from Drum
Frequency of occurrence of isolated fungi: Four fungal species were isolated from the seeds of IFE BROWN and they include Candida spp, Pythium spp., Rhizopus stolonifer and Trichoderma spp
Summary
Such alternatives include the use of organic materials such as plant extracts and inorganic salts such as sodium bicarbonate. This study evaluated the inhibitory effects of the leaf extracts of two plants (Azadirachta indica and Vernonia amygdalina) and an inorganic salt; sodium bicarbonate on fungal species isolated from cowpea seeds. Evaluation of the efficacies of plant extracts and sodium bicarbonate against fungal isolates: The inhibitory effects of the leaf extracts of Azadirachta indica at 1.95mg/ml and1.43mg/ml were tested against fungal species isolated from IFE BROWN variety while Vernonia amygdalina at 1.45 mg/ml and 1.15 mg/ml were tested on the fungal species isolated from Drum.
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