Evaluation of Antifungal Activity of Botanicals for Postharvest Management of Mango Anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides)

Abstract

Antifungal activities of 20 plant species were tested against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, the causal agent of mango anthracnose. Culture sensitivity tests of the plant extracts were done using paper disc diffusion inhibition method. Among the twenty plant species extracted with ethyl acetate Ruta chalepensis and Eucalyptus globulus showed the highest activity. Methanol extracts of three plants, namely Datura stramonium, Adhatoda schimperiana and Eucalyptus globulus also showed remarkable activity. The extracts also significantly inhibit conidial germination of the test fungi over the control. Plant species that showed potential in vitro were selected and aqueous extracts of the plants were evaluated on artificially and naturally infected mango fruits. Development of anthracnose on mango fruits was significantly affected on both tests. Results of this study indicate that use of botanical for the control of anthracnose disease in mango is less expensive, safe and could serve as a good alternative to synthetic fungicides.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijls.v8i1.9957