Inhibition of Fusarium Pathogens in Millet by Extracts of Jatropha Curcas and Mangifera Indica - Abstract
This study investigates the phytofungicidal potentials of aqueous extracts of Mangifera indica and Jatropha curcas on the Fusarium pathogens of millet seedlings in southwestern Nigeria. Aqueous extracts of M. indica and J. curcas prepared at 0.15, 0.30 and 0.45 mg/ml concentration levels were evaluated in-vitro using standard methods, while the in-vivo experiment was carried out using soil inoculation method in a completely randomized design with three replications. Data on percentage mycelia inhibition, growth characters, disease incidence and severity were obtained, and statistically analyzed using SAS 9.1 statistical software. Based on the in-vitro experiment, J. curcas significantly (p<0.05) inhibited the mycelial growth of Fusarium pathogens at increasing concentrations better than M. indica. The in-vivo result showed that J. curcas at 0.15, 0.30 and 0.45 mg/ml concentrations significantly (p<0.05) suppressed F. anthophilum, F. verticillioides and F. oxysporum. Similarly, M. indica at 0.30 and 0.45 mg/ml concentrations was observed to show significant (p<0.05) effect on F. verticillioides and F. scirpi. However, both extracts significantly (p<0.05) reduced the incidence and severity of disease caused by F. anthophilum and F. oxysporum at concentration levels tested in comparison to the controls. The inhibitory effects of the extracts were negative and insignificantly (p<0.05) correlated with days of observation in vitro and with the growth characters in vivo. Fusarium spp showed negative and significant (p<0.05) association with disease severity while positive and significant (p<0.05) relationship existed between the extracts and disease severity. Therefore, the botanicals of J. curcas and M. indica were considered effective against Fusarium pathogens of millet seedlings. Hence, they could be employed in large scale farming for sustainable millet production in Nigeria.