Azadirachta indica Inhibited Phytopathogenic Fungi of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor. L. Moench)

Sorghum is a dietary staple cereal which could serve as effective substitute for maize, but the incidence of soil borne phytopathogenic fungi is fast becoming an imminent threat to the production of this important crop and it thus, worth investigating. The known phytopathogenic fungi namely; Fusarium solani, Fusarium verticillioides and Curvalaria lunata were evaluated separately and in combination on two Sorghum cultivars namely; Sorghum vulgare and Sorghum bicolor in completely randomized factorial design experiment with three replications. Further investigation using Azadirachta indica as phytofungicide was also carried out. Data were collected, statistically analyzed and interpreted for meaningful conclusion. Sorghum bicolour showed higher susceptibility to the interactions of F. solani x F. verticillioides, while F. solani x C. lunata showed significant (p<0.05) pathogenic effects on percentage germination, seedlings growth and disease incidence on the two varieties of Sorghum seedlings. The extracts of Azadirachta indica at 5% g/ml concentration significantly (p<0.05) antagonized the treatment of F. verticillioides alone and in interaction with F. solani x C. lunata on both varieties of Sorghum seedlings. Similarly, C. lunata alone and in interaction with F. verticillioides were significantly antagonized in Sorghum vulgare, while F. solani alone and in interaction with C. lunata were antagonized in Sorghum bicolor. However, F. verticillioides x F. solani and F. verticillioides x C. lunata resisted the phytofungicidal control of extract on the two varieties. Thus, Azadirachta indica showed considerably control on the soil borne phytopathogenic fungi of Sorghum seedlings.