Antifungal Activity of Propolis Extracts Against Postharvest Fungi of Mango Andokra Fruits in Makurdi

Résumé

Horticultural crops such as mango and okra fruits are susceptible to several diseases due to poor postharvest handling and storage. Fungal pathogens lead to post-harvest deterioration of many fruit vegetables produced in Nigeria. This study was carried out to evaluate the antifungal activity of propolis extracted from ethanolic extracts against the postharvest fungi of okra and mango fruits during storage in Makurdi. Two varieties of mango and okra fruits each that showed signs of deterioration were collected from the stored samples for laboratory experiments between May and June, 2024. Propolis' phytochemical composition was investigated both qualitatively and quantitatively using various conventional techniques. Data collected on the radial growth were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using GENSTAT and mean was separated using F-LSD at 5% level of significance. The study demonstrated that Nigerian propolis extracts obtained from Makurdi had considerable antifungal action against okra and mango fruit fungi. Thus, propolis extract could be a promising treatment for postharvest rot disease in okra and mango. However, further research is needed to establish the efficacy of propolis extract in the management of postharvest rot disease in real-world situations, particularly during long-distance transit. The study also showed that Aspergillus spp. and Penicillium spp., Aspergillus niger, and Fusarium spp. were isolated from decaying okra and mango fruits as these fungi are capable of causing postharvest diseases in healthy okra and mango fruits. The EEP at 90%EEP could significantly inhibit the radial growth of these organisms. Accordingly, the extract can be used as an alternative to the synthetic preservatives. Therefore, the fungicides-producing companies should take measures to produce large quantities of propolis that can be used against postharvest fungi in Benue, Nigeria.