Fungicidal activity of solatium nigrum and physalis angulate extracts against macrophomina phaseo/ina, a fruit rot pathogen of melon (Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad

Abstract

Acetone and methanol leaf extracts fractions of Solanum nigrum and Physalis angulata at various concentrations (1000, 500, 250, 100, 50 mg/ml) in PDA were tested against Macrophomina phaseolina, a pathogen of fruit rot disease of melon. All the extract concentrations showed significant (P<0.05) activity with dose and species-dependent effect against the phytopathogen. Acetone extracts had superior activity over methanol extracts with 100% inhibition of fungal growth at 500mg/ml for S. nigrum and 1000mg/ml for P. angulata. Phytochemical tests of the extracts revealed the presence of secondary metabolites in varying degrees with high concentrations of flavonoids and tannins which may be responsible for observed fungitoxic activity. The results of this study have uncovered the potentials of the Solanaceous weeds as antifungal agents. We therefore suggest field formulations and trials of these extracts as soil drench in agricultural farms against soil-borne pathogens.