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ABSTRACT
Azadirachta indica is a medicinal plant documented to have antimicrobial activities. This study was carried out to determine the effect of leaf extracts of Azadirachta indica on the control of postharvest deterioration of tomato fruits caused by microbes. Leaf extracts of Azadirachta indica at different concentrations and for various length of time at room temperature of 28 ± 1oC and relative humidity of 87% was used to treat tomato fruits to evaluate its extract capability to increase the shelf life of tomato fruits. The leaves collected were weighed differently at 25g, 50g, 75g, 100g, in two sets. A set was blended in 500ml of sterile distilled water while the other set was boiled in 500ml of distilled water for 15 minutes and allowed to cool. Fresh healthy looking tomato fruits were then immersed for 2 hours and 24 hours respectively in each of the concentrations. Sterile distilled water not amended with the plant extracts served as the control. Tomato fruits immersed for 2 hours produced a better result. The concentrate prepared by boiling 75g of neem leaves gave the best result. All used concentration of neem extract effectively suppressed the growth of microbes on the tomato fruits and this effect gradually increased with increasing concentrations. Disease severity of tomato fruits were studied after 2 and 4 weeks. Regarding the disease incidence, the highest value was recorded with fruits treated with boiled neem leaf extract for 2 hours. Palatability test conducted on the treated tomato fruits showed that there was no significant difference in the taste of the treated fruits and those not treated suggesting that leaf extracts Azadirachta indica can be used for the preservation of tomato fruits to prolong its shelf life. Neem extracts which are cheap and environmentally safe, exhibited considerable control of disease development and may be considered promising for protection of tomato fruits against pathogenic microbes with possible improvement of this economic crop.
