In vitro Efficacy of Synthetic Fungicides and Essential Oils against Mycosphaerella fijiensis, the Causal Agent of Black Sigatoka in Banana (Musa spp.) in Burkina Faso

Black sigatoka, caused by Mycosphaerella fijiensis, is a fungal disease that significantly reduces banana yields and quality in several plantations in Burkina Faso. This study aims to improve banana productivity by evaluating the effects of two chemical pesticides (mancozeb and copper hydroxide) and two essential oils (Ocimum gratissimum and Lippia multiflora) on the BH isolate of M. fijiensis. The doses of chemical pesticides and essential oils were then selected for the study and tested for radial growth, sporulation, and germination. The results show that mancozeb was highly effective against the different growth stages of the pathogen (inhibition percentage, IP > 75%) at the lowest dose, as were the essential oils of O. gratissimum at the medium dose (1000 ppm) and L. multiflora at the highest dose (4000 ppm). Copper hydroxide was effective against radial growth, sporulation, and germination (50% < IP ≤ 75%) at the highest dose (12,500 ppm). These results highlight the biological potential of O. gratissimum essential oil as an alternative for controlling fungal disease as part of an integrated management strategy with mancozeb.