Venkata Ramesh K

Fruits are living entities and are highly perishable and one of the major reasons for postharvest losses is the spoilage due to postharvest fungal pathogens. In the present study, eight botanicals were tested in vitro against six postharvest pathogens viz., Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus niger, Botryodiplodia theobromae, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Colletotrichum musae and Fusarium musae. Inhibition of mycelial growth and spore germination was studied. Maximum mycelial growth inhibition of A. alternata (69.51%) by chromalaena leaf extract, A. niger (72.20%) by garlic bulb extract, B. theobromae (82.17%) by garlic bulb extract, C. gloeosporioides (68.91%) by garlic bulb extract, C. musae (84.80%) by neem leaf extract, F. moniliforme (62.20%) by tulasi leaf extract were recorded. Results of the study indicated that the for majority of the fungi, garlic bulb extract, neem leaf extract, tulasi leaf extract were effective in inhibition of mycelial growth and spore germination of the postharvest pathogens and can be incorporated into integrated management programmes.

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