IN VITRO ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF SYZYGIUMAROMATICUM (L.) MERR. AND L.M. PERRY AND ACACIA NILOTICA (L.) WILLD. EX DELILE AGAINST PATHOGENIC FUNGI OF PEANUT (ARACHIS HYPOGAEA L.)

Groundnut (Arachishypogaea L.) is the main rainfed crop in Senegal, both in terms of cultivated area and the diversity of its uses. However, its production is negatively affected by diseasescaused by a wide range of phytopathogenic fungi. Most of pathogens are commonly controlled with chemical fungicides, which may have harmful effects on the environment and human health. Research for more sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives has therefore been broadened to include natural products, particularly plant extracts, among others. This study was carried outto assess the in vitro antifungal efficacy of ethanolic extracts from the floral buds of Syzygiumaromaticum and pods of Acacia nilotica against several phytopathogenic fungi responsible for diseases of groundnut.The extracts were incorporated at different concentrationsinto Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) medium intended to grow the fungi. The test results revealed that S. aromaticum extract completely (100%) inhibited the mycelial growth of Aspergillussp., Rhizoctoniasp., and Rhizopussp. readily at 1000 ppm. At 5000 ppmthe growth of all tested fungi was suppressed. A. nilotica extract also showed effectiveness, however its maximum inhibition rate was79.87% at 10000 ppm against Fusarium sp. The major chemical constituents identified in these plants extracts included polyphenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, sterols, and polyterpenes. These findings suggest that such extracts could, in the future, be integrated into biological control strategies against groundnut fungal diseases.