In Vitro Control of Leaf Blight and Leaf Curl in Solanum Melongena

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2025 in the subject Biology - Micro- and Molecular Biology, grade: A (Very Good), University of Calabar (university of calabar), course: Microbiology, language: English, abstract: Leaf blight and leaf curl diseases, caused by Alternaria alternata and Choanephora cucurbitarum respectively, are significant threats to the cultivation of Solanum melongenae (eggplant), leading to substantial crop losses. The increasing resistance of these pathogens to synthetic fungicides, along with concerns over environmental and health impacts, highlights the need for sustainable alternatives. This study investigates the in vitro antifungal potential of ethanolic leaf extracts from Glyphae brevis and Allanblackia floribunda against these pathogens. The extracts, tested at concentrations of 2.5g/100ml, 4.5g/100ml, and 6.5g/100ml, completely inhibited the radial growth of both fungi, while control groups showed significant growth. The antifungal efficacy is attributed to bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, terpenoids, and phenolics, which likely disrupt fungal cell membranes and metabolic pathways. These results suggest that Glyphae brevis and Allanblackia floribunda extracts hold promise as eco-friendly biocontrol agents for managing fungal diseases in eggplant cultivation, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical fungicides.