Short Communication

Comparative in vitro inhibitory effects of cold extracts of some fungicidal plants on Fusarium oxysporium mycelium

A. Taiga¹*, M. N. Suleiman¹, W. Sule² and D. B. Olufolaji³

¹Department of Biological Sciences, Kogi State University, Anyigba.

²Department of Microbiology, Kogi State University, Anyigba.

³ Department of Crop, Soil and Pest management, FUT, Akure.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: akpotaiga@yahoo.com.

Accepted 15 July, 2008

Cold extracts of five fungicidal plants (Aloe barbadensis, Azdrichta indica, Nicotiana tabacum, Tridax precubens and Carica papaya) were screened for in vitro inhibitory effects on Fusarium oxysporium, using 25, 50, 75 and 100% concentrations of each extract. The four different concentrations of N. tabacum completely inhibited radial growth of F. oxysporium mycelium in vitro, 75 and 100% concentrations of A. barbadensis had a similar effect, while only the 100% concentration of A. indica completely prevented the fungal growth. Generally C. papaya and T. precumbens showed fungicidal properties, but they could not completely inhibit radial mycelia growth of the fungal pathogen at any of the concentration levels tested. N. tabacum was found to be most fungitoxic as exhibited by all the concentration levels used.

Key word: In vitro, plant extracts, Fusarium oxysporium mycelium.