Postharvest Management of Fungal Rot Agents of Groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.) Using Leaf Extracts of Neem (Azadirachta indica)

This study was carried out to manage groundnut seed rot in Mubi, Adamawa State Nigeria. Groundnut Rot reported all the three location surveyed and average incidences market 21%. Mubi New Market showed 25% as highest percentage, followed by Old with 20% MubiKuturu 18%. Four organisms were isolated from lesions on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) follows; Aspergillus niger, Fusariumsolani, Rhizopus stolonifer flavus. The pathogen most frequently occurring (67.22%), niger (15.56%), flavus (15%) least Fusarium solani (2.22%). Pathogenicity test confirmed that four fungal isolates pathogenic level of severity assessed being severe 83.3%, 50%, 50% 33.33%. Plant extracts employed control vegetative mycelial growth aqueous ethanolic leaf neem at 20%, 40% 60% concentration. In vitro application for controlled better compared ethanol extracts. There complete inhibition while progressive growth. a significant difference fungi both increase concentration p= 0.0001 control. It is recommended use antimicrobials commonly found populated areas rural can be used reduce chemical costs smallholder farmers' over-reliance agricultural chemicals reduce.