Assessing the antimicrobial activity of Aframomum melegueta and Piper guineense extract on pathogens of rot diseases of cucumber fruit

The inhibitory potential of Aframomum melegueta and Piper guineense extract against the pathogens of fruit rot diseases of cucumber was assessed. Two fungal isolates isolated from rotten cucumber fruits were; Fusarium oxysporium and Penicillium sp. The test plant extract were prepared in concentrations of 100% and 70%. The antimicrobial potential of ethanolic extract of Piper guineense at 100% concentration against Fusarium oxysporium revealed inhibition zone of 26.6 mm while 70% concentration of same plant extract had 17.0 mm. Ethanolic plant extract of A. melegueta at 100% concentration showed 7.5 mm and 70% concentration of same plant extract had 6.5 mm. Aqueous plant extract of both plants showed very minimal inhibitory effect on F. oxysporium which ranged from 0.00mm to 8.5mm. For Penicillium sp, ethanolic extract of Piper guineense at 100% showed inhibition of 18.0mm and at 70% concentration of same plant extract showed inhibition of 12.5mm. Ethanolic plant extract of A. melegueta at 100% concentration inhibited the growth of Penicillium sp with inhibition zone of 15.5mm and the 70% concentration of same plant extract showed 11.5mm inhibition zone. The aqueous plant extract at 100% revealed inhibition zone of 15.5 mm and 70% concentration showed no inhibition. The phytochemical screening of test plants revealed the presence of most of the phytochemicals tested in abundance with very few exception.