Evaluation of antifungal efficacy of some plant extracts on Curvularia lunata, the causal organism of maize leaf spot

Abstract

The efficacy of leaf extracts of Gliricidia sepium, Tithonia diversifolia, Phyllanthus amarus and Morinda lucida were assessed in vitro to control Curvularia lunata. The extracts of the four plants suppressed the growth of C. lunata in vitro. All the extracts at 100% concentration significantly suppressed the growth of C. lunata (P ≤ 0.05). At all concentrations, P. amarus is most efficacious of all the plants extracts; this was followed by extract of T. diversifolia and M. lucida. Extract of G. sepium was the least effective of all the plant extracts against C. lunata. P. amarus is most efficient in the control of leaf spot of maize caused by C. lunata of all the four plant extracts used.

Key words: Botanicals, Curvularia lunata, extracts, leaf spot, maize.