Fungal Pathogens Associated with Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) Fruit and Efficacy Determination of Annona senegalensis Leaf Extract Against The Fungal Isolates

This study focused on the Isolation of fruit-rot fungal pathogens of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and the efficacy determination of Annona senegalensis leaf extract against the fungal isolates. A total of ten (10), each of the spoilt and healthy watermelon fruit from among the samples collected from the four different markets within Mubi were randomly selected for the isolation of fruit-rot fungal pathogens. The collected A. senegalensis fresh leaves were air-dried, pulverized and extracted using maceration method of extraction. The extract was then screened for the presence of phytochemicals and antifungal activity test. The study indicated the presence of only two fungal species such as Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger associated with the fruit-rot of watermelon. Terpenoids, flavonoids and tannins were the phytochemicals discovered present in the ethanolic leaf extract of A. senegalensis. The antifungal activity test of the extract showed an inhibitory effect against all the fungal isolates with statistically highest diameter zone of inhibition of 17.50 mm and 20.85 mm and lowest zone of 7.80 mm and 3.15 mm on A. fumigatus and A. niger respectively. Fungal species such as A. niger and A. fumigatus were responsible for the fruit-rot of watermelon fruit obtained from Mubi region. The ethanolic leaf extract of A. senegalensis was effective against A. fumigatus and A. niger.