Effect of crude extract of Allium sativum L. and Zingiber officinale Rosc. on the post – harvest management of Botryodiplodia theobromae pat on banana fruits

Abstract

Banana is a popular food crop that provides income for many rural farmers and urban traders. Post - harvest rot of banana caused by Botryodiplodia theobromae limits banana availability due to reduced quality and deterioration during storage and sale. This study was conducted to determine the effect of garlic (Allium sativum) and ginger (Zingiber officinale) crude extracts at three concentrations of 10 %, 20 % and 30 % w/v on the management of Botryodiplodia theobromae in vivo. The study was a factorial experiment laid out in a Completely Randomized Design with three replicates. Data were recorded on the lesion growth, percentage weight loss, percentage lesion inhibition and the acceptability of treated banana (Musa acuminata Colla) fruits by consumers. The result shows that the percentage weight loss of treated banana fruits was not significantly different (p ˃ 0.05) across the treatments. The A. sativum extract at 30 % concentration had the highest percentage inhibition throughout the period of study. The lesion growth percentage inhibition trends showed that 30 % A. sativum > 30 % Z. officinale >20 % A. sativum >10 % A. sativum > 20 % Z. officinale >10 % Z. officinale > control. Banana fruits treated with 30 % w/v were more acceptable to the panellists and were comparable with the un-inoculated control.

Keywords: Allium sativum, Banana, Botryodiplodia theobromae, Crude extract, Z. officinale