Abstract:
Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is considered as one of the major oil crop widely grown in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, and is an important source of protein. Diseases are major constraints to groundnut production throughout the world. In fact, food contaminants especially spoilage fungi and its associated risks to humans, wild animals and livestock are considered as ones of the most important diseases of this crop worldwide. The present investigation was undertaken in the laboratory of Plant protection Department, College of Agricultural Studies, Sudan University of Science and Technology, to evaluate the antifungal activity of Ethanolic extract of seeds and leaves of Mesquite (Prosopis juliflora), seeds of Datura (Datura innnoxia) and efficacy of fungicide (Byleton® 50 WP) against two fungi, Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium digitatum. Three concentrations of Ethanolic extract of leaves and seeds of Mesquite and seeds of Datura and Byleton each of 25, 50 and 100% were used in addition to the control. The assessment of their inhibitory effect against the pathogen was recorded through the fungal growth inhibition zone percentage. The results showed that all Ethanolic extracts (leaves and seeds of Mesquite and seeds of Datura) as well as fungicide induced a significantly high inhibition zones percentage against the two test fungi compared to the control. Among all treatments the inhibition zones percentage against the two fungi ranges between 82.6 and 100% where no growth. Moreover, concentration of each extract as well as that of the fungicide reacted differently against the fungi. In this respect the effect of the fungicide was found to be pronounced than the extracts. The results also showed that the fungicide result in complete inhibition of the fungal growth (100%) at all tested concentrations. Among Ethanolic extracts, Mesquite leaves and seeds expressed at 100% concentration relatively high inhibition zone against the two fungi. Moreover, this relative increase in inhibition zone was also demonstrated by IX
leaves of Mesquite compared to it seeds extracts against the two fungi. Obviously, the growth inhibition increased with increasing concentration and the sensitivity of the fungus P. digitatum towards the plant extracts was more pronounced compared to A. Flavus. The current results were considered promising and encouraging to carry out a phytochemicals analysis of different parts of Mesquite plant using different solvents so as to determine the bioactive ingredient in each of these parts.
