In vitro inhibitory effect of leaf and seed extracts of Moringa oleifera on growth of Fusarium oxysporum associated with leaf spots of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides

 Fusarium oxysporum was found associated with the leaf spot disease of Zanthxylum zanthoxyloides. The goal of this study was to employ Moringa oleifera aqueous leaf and seed extracts to inhibit the development of F. oxysporum in vitro at doses of 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 mg mL-1. Tests for the presence of certain secondary metabolites were also carried out. Naturally occurring substances such as alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, phenols, steroids, terpenoids and cyanoglycosides were identified in the samples. The extracts from the two parts of the plant were effective against the growth of F. oxysporum. The highest inhibitory effects of leaf extract occurred at 400 and 500 mg mL-1, with a mean diametric measurement value of 0.57 cm and the least at 100 mg mL-1 with a value of 1.28 cm.  Similarly, the highest effect of seed extract was at 500 mg L-1 with a value of 0.76 cm and the least at 100 mg mL-1 with 1.34 cm fungal growth as compared to1.92 cm fungal diameter recorded in the control treatment. This work shows that the test fungus could be controlled effectively using concentrations of 400 and 500 mg mL-1 leaf and seed extracts of M. oleifera.&nbsp

Effect of fungi associated with foliar diseases of Ficus capensis on the proximate, anti-nutrient and mineral composition of leaves

 The Ficus capensis Thunb leaves are affected by some foliar diseases, which could reduce the nutrient benefits from these leaves. This study aimed at isolation and characterization of fungal pathogens associated with the plant's foliar diseases, analysis of the proximate and phytochemical composition of healthy and diseased fruits and leaves. The effect of isolated fungal species on these proximate and phytochemical contents of leaves was also investigated. Hendersonula sp., Didymeria conferta, Rhizopus stolonifer and Fusarium oxysporium were isolated and characterized as fungi associated with the leaves. Proximate analysis revealed the presence of protein, carbohydrate, lipid, ash, fiber, and moisture. Mineral nutrient analysis revealed the presence of copper, zinc, lead, manganese, magnesium, potassium, sodium, calcium, while that of anti-nutrients revealed saponin, alkaloid, flavonoid, tannin and cyanogenic glycoside, both in the diseased and the healthy leaves and fruits of the plant. The values of the food nutrients and minerals in healthy leaves were significantly different from those of the infected fruits and leaves, with the value of non-nutrients in infected leaves were higher than those in health ones. The non-nutrients in the infected leaves were higher than those in the healthy leaves and fruits of the plants, while the proximate and mineral composition of the supposedly healthy leaves was greater than those of diseased leaves.  &nbsp