ISSN 2360-7971
*Corresponding author: Falade MJ,| Received: 17.05.2022 | Accepted: 19.05.2022 | Published: 26/05/2022 |
Abstract: Guava anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloesporioides is responsible for reduction in yield or productivity of guava with serious economic implication and hence the need for the control. Based on the above, laboratory studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of hot water leaf extracts of Drum stick tree (Moringa oleifera), Bright eyes leaf (Catharanthus roseus) and Cashew leaf (Anacardium occidentale) at three (15, 30 and 45%) concentrations and benomyl based synthetic fungicide on the mycelia growth of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and in checking the spread of the disease on the field. The extracts were applied in-situ to determine their efficacy of control. The result of the studies shows statistically significant (P<0.05) variation in C. gloesporioides growth depending on the extracts and concentrations. M. oleifera at 45% concentration was the most effective in reducing the growth of the fungus and incidence of the disease on the field. The effects of the 45% M. oleifera leaf extract compared favourably with the benomyl synthetic fungicide. The growth rate of C. gloesporioides treated with 45% M. oleifera and benomyl were respectively 2.88 and 2.76 mmday-¹. Similarly, disease incidence in plots treated with benomyl (20.2%) compared favourably with that of M. oleifera (22.6%) when extracts were applied two days before inoculation at the highest concentration (45%) of the leaf extracts. The study concluded that the active compound in the leaf extracts can be developed into synthetic fungicide for the management of guava anthracnose.
Keywords: Guava, anthracnose, plant extracts, fungicide.