Plant extracts as potential control agents of Black Sigatoka in Banana

Artículo

Aqueous extracts of Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Capsicum annuum and Azadirachta indica were tested for efcacy for management of Pseudocercospora fjiensis in banana (Musa spp.) when applied as foliar sprays. Extracts of C. annuum and A. indica demonstrated fungicidal efects in vitro, without showing phytotoxic efects. The two extracts protected tissue culture banana plantlets of cultivar Musakala to a similar degree as the traditional fungicide difenoconazole. Extracts of A. indica and C. annuum (0.3 g/ml) reduced Black Sigatoka severity by 69.3 percent and 65.6 percent, respectively, and were thus comparable to the fungicide difenoconazole (72.7 percent). Soil drenching of the extracts did not signifcantly reduce Black Sigatoka severity. In planta efects of the extracts mainly consisted of delayed symptom appearance and reduced lesion number. Symptom development was dependent on extract concentration and days between extract application and inoculation. Efect of the tested extracts on height of plants and new leaves was not signifcant. Collectively, our data suggest that A. indica and C. annuum have interesting and unique properties as plant protection agents against Pseudocercospora fjiensis, but further research is needed to investigate their efcacy.