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Efficacy of four plant
extracts in the control of root rot disease of cowpea (Vigna
unguiculata [L.] Walp)
M. N. Suleiman1* and S. A. Emua2
1Department
of Biological Sciences, Kogi State University, Anyigba,
Nigeria.
2Department
of Botany, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
nasirums@yahoo.com.
Tel.: +2348050622702.
Accepted 11
May, 2009 |
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A study on the use of ginger (Zingiber officinale),
aloe (Aloe vera), bitter kola (Garcinia
cola) and neem (Azadirachta indica) extracts in
the control of root rot of cowpea caused by Pythium
aphanidermatum was carried out in vitro and in
the field (in vivo). They were evaluated for their
antifungal activity over P. aphanidermatum, a rot
fungus of many economic crops. Vegetative growth values over
the fungus at 40, 60, 80 and 100% concentrations were
generally low compared with the control, complete inhibition
of fungal mycelia growth was exhibited at all concentrations
in ginger extract. Aloe at 60% completely inhibited mycelial
growth; this was followed by bitter kola with only
retardation of mycelial growth while neem was the least
effective. Highest mycelial dry weight was noticed on bitter
kola extract but more sporangia formation in neem after a
prolong incubation. However, the extracts were sparingly
effective for a short period on the field experiment. A
statistical evaluation of variance showed a significant
difference between mycelial radial growths values recorded
on the various plant extracts concentrations used compared
with the control.
Key
words:
Plant extract, fungal mycelial growth, cowpea root rot,
in vitro, in vivo. |
