Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an important food and cash crop particularly in Eastern, Southern and Great lake region. The efficacy of water based crude plant extracts of Neem (Azadirachta indica), Mexican marigold (Tagetes minuta), Tobacco (Nicotiana tobacum) and Peri-winkle (Vinca rosea) in controlling soil-borne fungi (Fusarium oxysporum Schl. f. sp. phaseoli) of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was studied in the western province of Kenya. Thirty farms were used in the study carried out in August-September 2005 and March-June 2006. Broth microdilution method was used to determine minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). All crude plant extracts controlled Fusarium yellows with varying efficacy. Neem extract was the most effective, while peri-winkle was the least. Wilt incidence was not affected by dosage regime. Neem is inhibitory to Fusarium growth at lower dosage than tobacco, Mexican marigold and peri-winkle with MIC ranging between 2.5 and 10.0 mg ml

Fusarium yellows is a disease of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris, L.) caused by Fusarium oxysporum Schl. F. sp. phaseoli, it has been found to be important in Busia district of Western province, Kenya. The study on fungitoxic properties of four locally available crude plant extracts was aimed at evaluating their efficacy in controlling Fusarium yellows infestation under the field conditions. Crude plant extracts from Azadirachta indica, Tagetes minuta, Nicotiana tobacum and Vinca rosea were tested against Fusarium oxysporum Schl. F. sp. phaseoli. Participatory On-Farm Trials (POFT) in six (6) divisions were carried out in August-September 2005 and March-June 2006; a total of thirty (30) farms were randomly surveyed. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of crude plant extracts against Fusarium was determined by broth microdilution method. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed on the data, using Genstat 8 th edition statistical program (Release 8.11, Lawes Agricultural Trust, Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, UK). Means were separated using LSD. Crude plant extracts exhibited fungitoxic activity against Fusarium oxysporum Schl. F. sp. phaseoli, with varying degree of efficacy. Nicotiana tobacum and Vinca rosea were not effective, Azadirachta indica and Tagetes minuta exhibited significant control over Fusarium. Azadirachta indica performed better amongst all the plant extracts. Common bean treatment with Benomyl 1 significantly reduced (P≤0.05) wilt incidence and increased growth in comparison to negative (-ve) control. Azadirachta indica formulation gave a significant reduction in wilt incidence compared to the other three crude plant extracts formulations. It reduced the wilt incidence by 17.24% in comparison to Tagetes minuta, Nicotiana tobacum and Vinca rosea whose wilt incidence reduction ranged from 5.84-9.8%. Azadirachta indica inhibited Fusarium growth at lower dosage than Tagetes minuta, Nicotiana tobacum and Vinca rosea. Extracts from Azadirachta indica and Tagetes minuta are effective, cheap and ecofriendly promising methods for protecting common bean against Fusarium oxysporum Schl. F. sp. phaseoli.