PJB-2020-232
Antifungal activity of Alternathera philoxeroides organic solvent extracts against plant pathogenic fungi
Awais Amin, Muhammad Akbar, Tayyaba Khalil, Waheed Akram and Aqeel Ahmad
Abstract
Fungal phytopathogens greatly affect the agriculture industry. At present these pathogens are being controlled by synthetic fungicides but all of these fungicides have serious environmental effects and human health hazards. In search of ecofriendly natural fungicidal extracts, antifungal activity of leaf, stem and root of alligator weed [Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart). Griseb] was evaluated in the present investigation. The extracts were prepared by soaking the dry powder of plant parts (Leaves, stem and root) into four organic solvents viz. methanol, n-hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate. Antifungal activity was examined by using food poisoning technique against four plant pathogenic fungal species; Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl., Aspergillus flavus Link, Aspergillus niger Tiegh. and Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid. Antifungal activity was checked at 5 concentrations ranging from 5-25 mg/ml. Synthetic fungicide, defeater plus was used as positive control while dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) was used as negative control. It was found that n-hexane fraction of A. philoxeroides leaves exhibited the highest (40%) antifungal activity against A. alternata and A. flavus while there was 32% decline in case of M. phaseolina and 25% decrease in fungal biomass in A. niger at concentration of 25 mg/ml. The present study concluded that A. philoxeroides has antifungal constituents that can be isolated and identified to be used as natural ecofriendly fungicides in future.
To Cite this article:
Amin, A., M. Akbar, T. Khalil, W. Akram and A. Ahmad. 2022. Antifungal activity of Alternanthera philoxeroides organic solvent extracts against plant pathogenic fungi. Pak. J. Bot., 54(1): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2022-1(28)
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