Bio-effectiveness of Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del. seed extracts against Colletotrichum capsici (Syd.) Butler & Bisby causal agent of anthracnose in cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walps.) under natural conditions

Anthracnose disease is one of the major causes of yield losses around 45 to 85% in cowpea crops production in Cameroon. Synthetic fungicides are commonly used for diseases management, yet concerns exist regarding their cost effectiveness and environmental impact. This study aimed to control the development of cowpea anthracnose by using extracts from the seeds of Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del. The experimental design was a “split-plot” with four replicates. The varieties constituting the main plots randomly in replication with two variants: V1 (Tiligré) and V2 (Lori 24-130) and treatments represented sub-plots randomized within the main plot (T0: control; T-AqE: aqueous extract; T-AcE: acetone extract; T-ME: methanol extract; T-Fong: synthetic fungicide containing 80% of maneb) during two campaigns (2020 and 2021). As results, the plots treated with synthetic fungicide T-F: (9.78 and 9.1%), aqueous extracts (10.6 and 20.48%) and acetone extracts (12.2 and 12.3%) recorded lower severity than control plots (64.14 and 59.82%) for varieties V1 and V2, respectively. The yields were higher in plots treated with aqueous extract (794.05 and 926.63 kg ha -1 ) and lower in the control plots (518.03 and 545.055 kg ha -1 ) respectively for the varieties V1 and V2. Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) seed extracts could be used in the integrated control of cowpea anthracnose disease.