Bioefficacy of indigenous plant extracts in controlling post-harvest stem-end rot (Botryodiplodia theobromae) of Kinnow fruits

The Kinnow fruits are prone to attack by a variety of microorganisms that causes post-harvest fruit rots. Among these, stem-end rot incited by Botryodiplodia theobromae Pat. is most destructive and causes more than 20% of the total fruit rot in Sriganganagar (Rajasthan). Aqueous extract of nine indigenous medicinal and aromatic plants were evaluated against B. theobromae under in vitro and further explored their bioefficacy to manage stem-end rot of Kinnow fruits. 15% concentration of Allium sativum inhibited 100% mycelial growth of the pathogen followed by Curcuma longa (77.35%) and Lawsonia inermis (73.64%). The fruits treated with extract of A. sativum at 15% concentration showed significantly less incidence of rot to rest of the extracts tested in both pre- (82.92%) and post-inoculation (77.47%) treatments. The rot incidence occurred at 8th day of inoculation was significantly higher to that at 4(th) day of inoculation.