COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE POTENCY OF VINEGAR AND TOBACCO LEAVES EXTRACTS AGAINST YAM ROT AGENTS

The study investigates the antimicrobial potential of vinegar and tobacco leaves against yam rot using standard analytical and microbiological methods. The bacterial isolates identified were: Pseudomonas sp., Serratia sp., Klebsiella sp., and Erwinia sp. and the fungal isolates identified were: Fusarium sp., Mucor sp., Penicillium sp. and Aspergillus sp. The result of the phytochemical screening showed that alkaloid was abundant in the two leaves, saponins were moderate in both vinegar and tobacco leaves. Tannin was abundant in vinegar but moderate in tobacco, flavonoids was abundant in vinegar but moderate in tobacco. For cardiac glycosides, Lieberman’s test showed moderate in vinegar and abundant in tobacco, Salkowski’s test was moderate in vinegar but trace in tobacco while Keller Kiliani’s test was moderate in vinegar and not detected in tobacco. The antibiogram sensitivity test of the extracts on the bacterial isolates revealed that Pseudomonas sp was susceptible at 90%, 70% and 50% vinegar extract with zone of inhibition of 13mm, 11mm and 11mm respectively and tobacco extract at 90%, 70% and 50% with zone of inhibition of 11mm respectively. Serratia sp. was susceptible to 90%, 70% and 50% of both extracts with zone of inhibition of 12mm, 12mm and 11mm respectively. Klebsiella sp. was susceptible to 90%, 70% and 50% vinegar extract with zone of inhibition of 11mm, 12mm and 13mm respectively and tobacco extract at 90%, 70% and 50% with zone of inhibition 13mm, 11mm and 11mm respectively while Erwinia sp. was susceptible to 90%, 70% and 50% vinegar extract with zone of inhibition of 12mm, 12mm and 11mm respectively and tobacco extract at 90%, 70% and 5% with zone of inhibition of 11mm each. Plants extracts such as vinegar and tobacco should be employed in combating yam rot diseases as it is environmentally safe and not toxic to non-target organisms.