Abstract:
The present study was conducted in July and August 2011 under laboratory
conditions of Plant Pathology, Plant Protection Department where the laboratory
temperature was 30Co on average as well as at fields of College of Agricultural
Studies (Shambat), Sudan University of Science and Technology. The objectives of
the study were to test the bioactivity of Jatropha and Neem (ethanol extract and
VII
powder of seeds) against Fusarium oxysporium and germination of Millet
(Pennisetum typhoides) grains.
Three concentrations of ethanol extracts from seeds of Jatropha and Neem
were used under laboratory conditions (2 ml, 1 ml and .5 ml) and other three ones
from seeds powder (5 gram/pot, 2.5 gram/pot and 1.5 gm/pot) in case of field
experiments in addition to the control.
The study showed that all concentrations of the extract of Jatropha and Neem
seeds exhibited an inhibitory effect against the test fungus compared to water
control. Similarly, all the powder concentrations of both plants seeds expressed a
reduction effect on percent germination of millet grains.
The level of inhibition to growth of fungus and reduction in germination of
grains differed with the type and concentration of the extract, seeds powder and the
test line of millet. The highest inhibition zone (100%) and (34%) was obtained by
the concentrations of extract 2.0 ml of Neem and Jatropha respectively. Likewise,
the highest reduction in grain germination percent (11.17%) resulted from the
concentrations of 5.0 gm seed powder of Neem and Jatropha. Moreover, the
inhibition effect of Neem extract was more remarkable than that of Jatropha
whereas the effect of Jatropha powder on germination of grains was more
pronounced than that of Neem.
Generally, the effect of extract and powder increase with increasing
concentration. The present study showed that the extracts of Neem and Jatropha and
their seeds powder contained bioactive compounds with inhibitory properties.
