%0 Journal Article
%T Assessing the Efficacy of Lemongrass (<i>Cymbopogon</i> <i>citratus</i>) and Sambong (<i>Blumea</i> <i>balsamifera</i>) Extracts in Combating Black Pod Disease: Sustainable Solutions for Controlling <i>Phytophthora</i> <i>megakarya</i> in Cameroon&#8217;s Cocoa Plantations
%A Gertrude Membang
%A James Michel Tchotet Tchoumi
%A Godswill Ntsomboh Ntsefong
%A Emmanuel Yvan Mba Ela
%A Sylvestre Landry Lontsi Dida
%A Ludovic Tchuenkam Tsango
%A Pascal Lo&#239
%A c Ekango Mbondjo
%A Fritz Oben Tabi
%J American Journal of Plant Sciences
%P 519-537
%@ 2158-2750
%D 2024
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/ajps.2024.157036
%X The use of plant extracts as antifungal agents is gaining increasing attention, particularly for the control of black pod disease in cocoa. Despite extensive research, current strategies haven&#8217;t been entirely effective. This study evaluated the effectiveness of <i>Cymbopogon</i> <i>citratus</i> and <i>Blumea</i> <i>balsamifora</i> leaf extracts, both individually and in combination, against <i>Phytophthora</i> <i>meg</i><i>a</i><i>karya</i>. We assessed the efficacy of the most promising combination (75% <i>B</i>. <i>balsamifera</i>, 25% <i>C</i>. <i>citratus</i>) after storage at room temperature for up to 9 days. Agar microdilution and <i>in</i> <i>vivo</i> bioassays were conducted to determine antifungal susceptibility and effectiveness. <i>Blumea</i> extract exhibited the highest overall inhibitory activity, with the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (117 &#181;l mL<sup>&#8722;</sup><sup>1</sup>) while <i>C</i>. <i>citratus</i> had a narrower range of MIC (146 to 233 &#181;l mL<sup>&#8722;</sup><sup>1</sup>). The combination of <i>C</i>. <i>citratus</i> and <i>B</i>. <i>balsamifera</i> demonstrated a synergistic effect against <i>P</i>. <i>megakarya</i>, achieving growth inhibition on V8 media (92.72 &#177; 4.20% to 100%) and on artificially infected detached pod cortex (92.24 &#177; 4.53% to 98.75 &#177; 1.25%), which was not significantly different from the positive control (Ridomil). Furthermore, this combination maintained its effectiveness for up to 9 days at room temperature. These findings suggest that combining plant extracts can enhance their antifungal properties.
%K Plant Extracts
%K Antifungal Agents
%K Synergistic Effect
%K Black Pod Disease
%K Cocoa
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=134788