Antifungal Potentialities of Crude Phytoextracts against Sugarcane Red Rot Pathogen-Colletotrichum falcatum Patel P. K.1, Patel S. K.2, Shah R. N.1, Bhasker V. V.* 1C G Bhakta Institute of Biotechnology, Uka Tarsadia University, Bardoli, 394350 2Department of Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, 396450 JTES'S Arts Commerce, Science College, Jamner, Dist: Jalgaon, Maharashtra, 424206 *email: vakulbhusanbhasker@gmail.com
Online published on 13 January, 2016. Abstract Colletotrichum falcatum is a phytopathogenic fungus that causes red rot disease in sugarcane plants, resulting in damage andlow yield of crops. The use of chemical fungicides is general approach for management of this disease, but it also results in the development of fungal resistance and environmental hazards. Therefore, present study aims to evaluate the in vitro effectiveness of eight crude leaf extracts against Colletotrichum falcatum isolates. The crude extracts of five medicinal plants viz., Withania somnifera, Alpinia galangal, Morinda citrifolia, Centella asiatica, Dhatura metel and three vegetable plants viz., Coccinia grandis, Solanum melongena, Brassica oleracea were assessed for antifungal activity against sugarcane red rot isolates using 10% water based extract after seven days of incubation at 28±2°C. The extracts of all the plant species studied were found to be effective in controlling the growth of all isolates at varying degree. The extract of Withania somnifera showed maximum mean mycelial growth inhibition (51.47%) for all nine C. falcatum isolates and was found to be very effective as compared to other phytoextract. C. asiatica extracts was less effective and show 28.19% growth inhibition. Surprisingly vegetable crops leaf extract were significantly effective as medicinal plant extracts. Among vegetable crops, aqueous extracts of B. oleracea leaves could effectively control the growth of fungal mycelium (42.1%), followed by Solanum melongena extract (38.4%) and Coccinia grandis extract (37.8%). These results suggest that not only medicinal plant but also vegetable plant extract play an important role in controlling C. falcatum. Top Keywords Red rot, phytoextract, medicinal plants, sugarcane, Colletotrichum falcatum. Top |