Control Apple Fruit Fungi Using a Green Biocide Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Plant Pathology Dept., National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt.

2 Microbiology Dept., Faculty of Science, Benha, University, Egypt

3 Microbiology Dept., Fac. Agric. Ain Shams University, Egypt

4 Microbiology Dept., Faculty of Science, Benha, University, Egypt.

5 Central laboratories, Ministry of Health, Egypt.

Abstract

Apple (Malus Domestica Borkh.) is an important fruit which is widely cultivated in the world and also in Egypt. 
Rotting and decay of the apples were observed regularly. Isolation of associated fungi from apple fruits was carried out 
on potato dextrose agar medium (PDA).A total of seven fungal pathogens including, Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus 
niger, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Fusarium sp., Penicillium expansum, Botryodiplodia theobromae and Rhizopus 
stolonifer were isolated from decayed fruits. Apple fruit spoilage was most severe under humid environment and was 
enhanced by wounds on fruit surfaces. Pathogenicity test revealed that all isolates proved pathogenic when artificially 
inoculated into healthy apple fruits. Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) extract is an effective a green biocide (biofungicide) against the growth of fungi and spore viability.

Keywords

Journal of Basic and Environmental Sciences
Volume 4, Issue 3
July 2017
Pages 253-261

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics