Antifungal Activity of Telfaira occidentalis Extracts on some Phytopathogenic Fungi Isolated from Carica papaya

Infused within plants are potent phytochemicals with beneficial activities to mankind which includes the management and treatment of microbial infections. Fungal diseases result in significant economic losses and hindrance of global papaya production. Phytochemicals have made medicinal plants become sources of environmentally friendly alternative antimicrobials. This study aimed at evaluating the antifungal activity of leaf extracts of Telfeira occidentalis against phytopathogenic fungi isolated from Carica papaya. Ethyl acetate, n-Hexane, ethanol, methanol and aqueous extracts of Telfeira occidentalis leaves were evaluated for their antimicrobial properties. Agar-well diffusion method was employed for in vitro screening, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of the extract types against test fungal species of Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rhizopus and Trichoderma. All the extracts evaluated inhibited fungal growth to some degree, with the aqueous extract exhibiting more inhibitory activities than the organic extracts. MIC and MFC values of the extracts ranged between 15.625 to 31.25 and 62.5 to 125 mg/mL, respectively. The antifungal activity of T. occidentalis was found to be equal or higher than commercially available fungicide, ketoconazole. The results of this study indicate that leaf extracts of T. occidentalis has potential for use as bio-fungicides for plant protection against fungal diseases

In vitro Antifungal Activity of Extracts of Moringa oleifera on Phytopathogenic Fungi Affecting Carica papaya

BACKGROUND: Plants remain the natural sources of efficacious phytonutrients with beneficial assets to mankind against microbial disorders. Diverse folklores have reported the roles of medicinal plants in the remedies of various disorders in man and animals. Metabolites and pesticides from the plant origin are considered better alternatives due to favorable environmental impact as compared to the synthetic counterparts. Significant economic losses and hindrance of global papaya production are due to fungal diseases. Phytochemicals have made medicinal plants become sources of environmentally friendly alternative antimicrobials. AIM: This study aimed at assessing the antifungal activity of leaf extracts of Moringa oleifera against phytopathogenic fungi isolated from Carica papaya. METHODS: n-Hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol, methanol, and aqueous extracts of M. oleifera leaves were evaluated for their antifungal properties. Agar well-diffusion method was implemented for in vitro screening, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of the extract types against fungal species of Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rhizopus, and Trichoderma. RESULTS: All the extracts evaluated inhibited fungal growth to some degree, with the aqueous extract exhibiting more inhibitory activities than the organic extracts. There was significant inhibition of fungal development by the tested plant extracts at different concentrations. MIC of the extracts was 15.625 mg/ml while the MFC values ranged between 15.625 and 31.25. In this work, the antifungal activity of M. oleifera was found to be equal or higher than commercially available fungicide, ketoconazole. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that foliole extracts of M. oleifera have potential for use as biofungicides for plant protection against fungal diseases

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens AD 20 and Bacillus altitudinis AD14 Isolated from a Dye Pond Decolorize Synthetic Textile Reactive Dyes

A screen of textile effluents, receiving waterbodies, and waste sites near a textile factory was undertaken to isolate new bacteria strains capable of dye degradation. Out of the 45 isolates, two dye decolorizers, Bacillus altitudinis AD14 and B. amyloliquefaciens AD20, obtained from the sediment samples were identified by cultivation and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Decolorization testing was performed under static aerobic conditions in the laboratory. The two Bacillus species showed dye decolorization capabilities on media containing each of these four commercial textile azo dyes- Reactive Blue 4 Red (RBFR), Cibacron Brilliant Orange 4 Red (COFR), Cibacron Brilliant Yellow 6 Percent Green (CYPGS), and Turquoise Cibacron Green (TCG). At the end of a ten-day incubation period, B. amyloliquefaciens AD20 was more efficient in dye reduction than B. altitudinis AD14 on CYPGS and COFR at a magnitude of four-fold and two-fold, respectively, while B. altitudinis AD14 only outperformed it in the TCG dye media. The isolates performed best on medium containing RBFR; the principal dye used by the textile factory. Genome annotation revealed the absence of plasmids and the presence of putative genes associated with dye decolorization, such as laccase and azoreductase