Antifungal Efficacy of three Botanical Extracts on Red Rot Pathogen (Colletotrichum falcatum) of Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum)

Abstract

Botanical extracts have shown appreciable achievement in controlling plant diseases. Based on this premise the antifungal potency of Azadirachtaindica, Lawsonia inermis and Khaya senegalensis leaf extracts were tested on the mycelia growth of Colletotrichum falcatum, the pathogen of red rot disease of sugarcane. The ethanol extracts were prepared at different concentrations; 25%, 50%, 75% with distilled water and 0.5g/l cloth as the negative and positive control respectively. The prepared extracts and controls were tested for antifungal effects against Colletotrichum falcatum. Phytochchemical analysis extracts revealed that these botanicals contained alkaloids, saponin, saponnin, flavonoids, phenol, steroids, tannins, terpenoids, anthraquinones and cardiacglycosides. The results also revealed that the maximum inhibitory effects on mycelia growth was due to 75% concentration with the mean value of from 100% (Lawsonia inermis ), 53% (Azadirachta indica ) and 60.60% (Khaya senegalensis ). The values were significantly different (p≤0.05) from all other treatments, except for 50% concentration of L.inermis. Therefore, it can be deduced 75% concentration of these could be effective in the control of the of the pathogen and further field trial of these botanical on red rot disease pathogen should be carried out authentic confirmation of their efficacy and eradication of the disease.