ANTIFUNGAL ANALYSIS OF THE LEAF OF MORINGA OLEIFERA FOR THE CONTROL OF FUSARIUM AND ALTERNARIA AFFECTING LYCOPERSICUM SP AND DAUCUS CAROTA (L)

Fungal infections significantly reduce the yield and quality of tomato (Lycopersicum sp.) and carrot (Daucus carota L.), posing a challenge to sustainable agriculture. This study aimed to evaluate the antifungal activity of Moringa oleifera leaf extracts as a potential biocontrol agent against Fusarium and Alternaria species infecting these crops. Fresh Moringa leaves were collected, dried, and extracted using ethanol and methanol. Fungal pathogens were isolated from diseased plant samples, identified morphologically, and subjected to antimicrobial assays using the agar well diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC). Results revealed that ethanol extracts exhibited significant antifungal activity, with inhibition zones of 20 mm and 18 mm against Fusarium and Alternaria respectively at 100 mg/ml. MIC and MFC values were determined at 12.5 mg/ml for both fungi, indicating strong fungistatic and fungicidal properties. In contrast, methanol extracts showed no antifungal activity across all concentrations. These findings suggest ethanol is a more effective solvent for extracting antifungal compounds from Moringa leaves.The study concludes that Moringa oleifera ethanol extracts hold promise as a natural, eco-friendly alternative to synthetic fungicides for managing fungal pathogens in tomato and carrot cultivation. It is recommended that further phytochemical analysis be conducted to isolate active compounds, alongside field trials and toxicological assessments, to validate practical applications in crop protection.