Evaluation of Bottle Gourd ( Lagenaria siceraria) For Antifungal Activity Against Tomato Wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Lycopersici

Wilt in tomato plant caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici remains one of the major constraints of tomato production not only in Nigeria but worldwide. Increase in awareness of the hazard caused by synthetic pesticides to the environment and the consumer has led to more research into alternative means of management ofplant pathogen. Use of botanical is one of such alternatives. This study investigated the suitability of ethanol and aqueous extracts of bottle gourd fruits for controlling the mycelia growth of E oxysporumf.sp. lycopersici causing wilt in tomato in vitro. Five levels of concentrations (1-5%) of each extract were evaluated on chloramphenicol modified PDA plate. Each treatment and control was replicated thrice. Percentage mycelia growth inhibition were determined daily for four days. The results showed hat there was a higher significant difference (P<0.05) in the percentage mycelial growth nhibition of water extracts than ethanol extracts. The potential of the aqueous extract of agenaria siceraria to inhibit mycelial growth of E oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici provides portunity for its recommendation as alternative to synthetic fungicide