EFFECT OF ORGANIC EXTRACTS OF SPICES ON PHYTOPATHOGENIC SPORULATING FUNGI

Abstract

The geographical area of Jharkhand has 29.61% of the total recorded forest area which possess diverse plants with significant secondary metabolites. Since use of synthetic pesticides are at extreme so the natural products like spices viz. Allium sativum (Garlic), Myristica fragrans (Nutmeg), Piper nigrum (Black pepper), Terminalia chebula (Chebulic myrobalan), Trachyspermum ammi (Ajwain), Trigonella foenumgraecum (Fenugreek) and Zingiber officinale (Ginger) of ethnomedicinal use were selected for antifungal efficacy. The ethyl acetate, ethanol and methanol extracts of selected plants were prepared at concentration 0.5,1,2,3,4 % and tested against 3 devastative sporulating fungi i.e. Alternaria capsici, Curvularia lunata and Erysiphe pisi. Against E. pisi; the ethyl acetate extract of all the seven spices showed 100% efficacy at 1% conc. while ethanol and methanol extracts of all spices was 100% effective at 3% concentration against E. pisi. In garlic each of the 3 organic extracts were 100% effective at concentration ranging from 2-4% against A. capsici while organic extracts of fenugreek failed to inhibit A. capsici spore germination. However, against C. lunata only the methanol extract at 3% conc. of myrobalan, ajwain and ginger were effective. A. capsici and C. lunata are deadly phytopathogens and their biocontrol through organic extracts of garlic, ajwain and myrobalan would be a better alternative to synthetic pesticides.