Efficacy of Aframomum melegueta and Zingiber officinale extracts on fungal pathogens of tomato fruit.

Abstract

The inhibitory properties of the methanolic extracts of Aframomum melegueta and Zingiber officinale on the fungal pathogens isolated from tomato were investigated. The pathogens were Helminthosporium solani, Mucor piriformis, Penicillium digitatum and Aspergillus niger. Various concentrations of the extracts ranging from 0-30% were separately added to PDA media. The pathogens were separately inoculated into the media and incubated for eight days. Antifungal effects of these extracts on the mycelial growth of the pathogens were significant at P< 0.05 for all treatments. At 25% concentration, the four pathogens were completely inhibited by Z. officinale extract. A. melegueta extract inhibited completely Helminthosporium solani and Mucor piriformis, while Penicillium digitatum and Aspergillus niger were 92.99% and 89.09% inhibited respectively at 25% concentration of the extract. The in vitro inhibitory effects of these extracts indicated that they can be used for the control of tomato fruit rot. It may be necessary to use them in prolonging the shelf-life of fresh tomato fruit and some other fruits.