Pathogenicity and in vitro extracts inhibition of fungi causing severe leaf blight in Thaumatoccocus danielli (Benn.) Benth

Abstract

Isolation and identification of fungi associated with severe leaf blight of Thaumatococcus danielli was conducted. The fungi were subjected to pathogenicity test in the screenhouse experiment. Laboratory assessment of antifungicidal activities of; Ficus asperifolia, Psidium guajava, Mormodica charantia and Anarcadium occidentales prepared at 25, 50 and 75 mg/mL concentrations against the three most virulent pathogens was carried out on PDA, V8 Agar, CZA, and MEA culture media. Data gathered were subjected to ANOVA. Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Pythium sp., Penicillium sp., Fusarium oxysporum, Macrophomina phaseolina, Trichoderma viride, T. koniigi and T. harzianum were the fungi found associated with the diseased parts and the rhizospheric soil. M. phaseolina, A. flavus and A. niger were the most virulent obtained in the pathogenicity test. Growths of these pathogens were mostly inhibited by M. charantia as its efficacy increased with increase in the concentration levels. Mycelia growths were mostly supported by MEA medium.