CONTROLE DA ANTRACNOSE EM MAM O POR EXTRATOS VEGETAIS

To evaluate the effect of plant extracts on the growth of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, ethanolic extractsfrom pitomba seeds, plantain, sword-of-saint-george and maigoya leaves were obtained and incorporated inpotato-dextrose-agar medium (PDA) at concentrations of 1%, 5% and 10% (v/v). Micelial growth wasevaluated in these media. The results demonstrated the inhibitory effect of extracts from plantain andpitomba increase significantly at concentrations above 5% (v/v), causing almost complete inhibition of thefungal growth (90% and 100%, respectively). In contrast, maigoya and sword-of-saint-george extractsshowed small inhibition even at a concentration of 10% (v/v), causing a reduction, in the fungal growth, ofonly 8% and 23%, respectively. The fungitoxic activity detected in the extracts tested in this work show thepotential usage as biopreservers of papaya, preventing contamination and consequent loss of fruits duringpostharvest.