Biocontrol methods have become a common practice in horticulture and crop husbandry due to the attendant negative impact of fungicides and other chemical agents in the soil, vegetation and environment. Most fungicides accumulate in plant tissues and subsequently trigger toxic effects in animals. The efficacy of Moringa oleifera seed oil (2.5,5,10,15, and 20%) and leave extracts of Vernonia amygdalina and Azadirachta indica (25,50,100,150, and 200 mg/ml) on tar leaf spot fungus Phyllachora bonariensis were studied invitro on culture media. All the botanicals showed activity and concentration-dependent growth inhibition against the tar spot fungus with percentage range from 69-100% at various concentrations. The tar spot pathogen was more sensitive to M. oleifera seed oil than leave extracts of Vernonia amygdalina and Azadirachta indica. Also the botanicals reduced the growth of Phyllachora bonariensis at lower concentration range of 25-200 mg/ml more than the benlate (standard fungicide) at 1000 mg/100 ml. These botanicals can thus be recommended as potent bio- fungicides since they are environmentally friendly and have potential for control of Phyllachora bonariensis.
Key words: Azadirachta indica, Biocontrol, Moringa oleifera, Vernonia amygdalina, Pyllachora bonariensis
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