Abstract

ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF CAPPARIS DECIDUA EXTRACTS AGAINST SEED-BORNE PATHOGENIC FUNGI

Y.C. Tripathi*, Sushma Singh, Nishat Anjum, K.K. Srivastava

ABSTRACT

Biodeterioration of seeds due to fungal infestation cause considerable losses in terms of their viability, chemical composition and end-use. Control of such fungi using synthetic fungicides has limitation of adverse health and environmental consequences. This can be overcome through persistent exploration and promotion of eco-friendly botanical fungicides. With this milieu, methanolic extracts of wood, bark and seeds of Capparis decidua, traditionally acclaimed for medicinal value were evaluated for antifungal efficacy against six seed-borne pathogenic fungal species causing severe deterioration to economically important seeds during storage. Methanol extracts of wood, bark and seeds of C. decidua showed very low MIC values against all the six fungi. Results indicated that extracts of all the three parts at all the tested concentrations were effective as compared to negative control. However, extracts of different parts exhibited varying degrees of inhibition. Extent of activity also differed with concentration of extracts used. Radial growth inhibition was minimum with extracts of all the three parts at 5mg/ml concentration and maximum at 100mg/ml. Among the treatments, bark extract was found more effective than that of seeds and wood. Growth inhibition with bark and seed extract at concentration of 25mg/ml was almost at par with the synthetic fungicide carbendazim. Further, growth inhibition of all the six fungi with 50 mg/ml concentration of extracts of the three parts is significantly higher as compared to carbendazim. The study thus revealed the promising antifungal efficacy of C. decidua.

Keywords: Biodeterioration, Seed-borne fungi, Capparis decidua, Extract, Antifungal activity.