EVALUATION OF PLANT EXTRACTS AGAINST POST-HARVEST ROTTING FUNGI FROM TOMATO FRUITS

The most common postharvest concern is fungus-caused tomato fruit rot. Produce rotting occurs between harvest and eating due to the fungus. The goal of this study was to see how well five plant extracts worked against the three most common rotting fungus species that cause tomato fruit rot (Aspergillus flavus, Rhizopus stolonifer and Fusarium oxysporum). Results showed that all plant extract exhibited antifungal activity (p<0.05) against tested pathogens. The radial colony fungal growth is decreased with increasing concentrations of the plant extracts. All plant extract at 2000ppm concentration showed >= 80 % mycelial growth reduction for all the three rotting fungi respectively. Overall Aspergillus flavus is more sensitive rotting fungi against plant extracts followed by Rhizopus stolonifer and Fusarium oxysporum. Plant wise highest antifungal potential has appeared in Artemisia absinthium and Artemisia brevifolium while least in Salvia nubicola. The outcome of the current endeavor indicates that plant extract can be used to control tomato rot fungal species.