Antifungal potential of some natural products against Aspergillus flavus in soybean seeds during storage

The inhibitory effect of cow-dung fumes, captan, leaf powder of Withania somnifera, Hyptis suaveolens, Eucalyptus citriodora, peel powder of Citrus sinensis, Citrus medica and Punica granatum, neem cake and pongamia cake on the growth of Aspergillus flavus in soybean seeds during storage was investigated. Soybean seed was treated with different natural products and the fungicide captan and was stored at ambient conditions for 6 months. Seed samples were withdrawn at monthly intervals and the incidence of seed-borne A. flavus and percentage germination of the seed was determined. Captan, neem cake, pongamia cake and peel powder of C. sinensis reduced the incidence of A. flavus. Leaf powder of W. somnifera, H. suaveolens, E. citriodora and peel powder of P. granatum also checked the frequency of A. flavus. All treatments maintained a high germination percentage of the soybean seeds over a storage period of 6 months. These natural products may be alternatives to chemical fungicides and provide an easy method to protect soybean and other agricultural commodities from A. flavus in storage.