IN VITRO FUNGICIDAL ACTIVITY OF TWO PLANT EXTRACTS AGAINST FIVE PHYTOPATHOGENIC FUNGI OF CUCUMBER (CUCUMIS SATIVUS L.) FRUIT

The ethanolic extracts of Chromolaena odorata L and Moringa oleifera Lam were tested at concentrations of 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 mg/ml for their in vitro fungicidal activities against five phytopathogenic fungi isolated from diseased Cucumber fruits. The pathogens were Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht, Aspergillus niger Van Tiegh, Rhizopus stolonifer Ehrenb. ex. Fr, Geotrichum candidum Link and Mucor micheli ex Staint ? Amans as confirmed by pathogenicity tests. The inhibitory effects of the extracts increased with increase in concentrations. Some of the concentrations reduced the mycelial growth of the pathogens to a significant (P > 0.05) level. Very strong fungicidal activity was produced by extracts of M. oleifera at 100 mg/ml against all the fungi. The inhibitory effects of C. odorata extracts at 20, 40 and 60 mg/ml were greater than those of M. oleifera on A. niger, F. oxysporum and M. micheli. The results of the investigation indicated that plant extracts possess antifungal activity that can be exploited as an ideal treatment for future plant disease management.