Evaluation of bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) extract in the inhibition of fungi causing post harvest rot of tomato fruits in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

The study was carried out to evaluate bitter leaf (Vernoniaamygdalina) extract in the inhibition of fungi causing post-harvest rot of tomato fruits in Makurdi, Benue State. Nigeria. Tomatoes have been in cultivation in Nigeria for a very long time, major producing areas lies between latitude 7.50N and 130N and within temperature range of 250C- 340C. The method employed was to isolate and identify the pathogens causing rot from tomatoes. The fungal pathogens isolated were Fusarium oxysporum and Aspergillus niger.The fungi were cultured with the bitter leaf extracts using potato dextrose agar (PDA), and mycelia growth and zone of inhibition was observed. The study revealed that there was significant differences (P=0.05) in the Grand mean inhibitory effect in both test fungi with the control with increase in concentration. At 75g/ml concentration, plant extract hasthe highest inhibitory mean effect on Aspergillus niger (0.62±0.06mm) and Fusarium oxysporum(0.3±0.09mm). V. amygdalina have inhibitory potential on post harvest rot causing fungi of tomato in storage and suggest its ability to prolong its shelf-life.