Anthracnose Inhibiting Activity of Madre de Cacao (Gliricidia sepium) Leaf Extract on Post – harvest Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)

Researchers: Tupas, Frederick King M., Forastero, Nicolette, Armas Alexia Marie L.,

 Lebrias, Maria Teddielyn Bernadette, and Posada, Elijah Rafael

Research Adviser: Mrs. Ma. Regaele A. Olarte

 Introduction

                  Anthracnose is a common and serious disease of plants in tropical region and humid areas. It is a fungus that causes heavy and deep damage to tomatoes making it easy to rot. Growth of Anthracnose (C. Coccodes) is most rapid at 80° F, although the fungus can cause infections over a wide range of temperatures (55°-95° F). Wet weather promotes disease development, and splashing water in the form of rain or overhead irrigation favors the spread of the disease. Colonies as observed by the researchers are usually dark pigmented with white aerial vegetative part of a fungus which is called mycelium. Consisting of numerous black compact mass of hardened fungal mycelium containing food reserves (sclerotia) and light brown colored conidial masses, reverse is a dark brown conidial masses. It is also a result in wide range of symptoms like leaf spots, defoliation and distortion in many different kinds of plants. One of the plants that is affected by this kind of fungi are tomatoes.

  The researchers have come up with the idea of using Madre de Cacao (Gliricidia sepium) leaf extract on post-harvest Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum). The study ascertained that the medicarpin content of the said plant is an effective treatment for fungi. Since Gliricidia has already proven its power on fungal infections, the researchers conducted several experimentation and trials to figure out its effectiveness; with this, Anthracnose can now be prevented and cured without the help of commercially known anti-fungal treatment.