Abstract

EFFICACY OF AQUEOUS STEM EXTRACTS OF SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS AGAINST FUNGAL PATHOGENS OF VEGETABLE BEANS

Suman Saini*

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to evaluate the antifungal efficacy of selected medicinal and locally available plants were tested on some pathogenic fungi. The in vitro studies have been performed by using disc diffusion method to examine the antifungal activity of stem extracts. Stem extracts of Azadirachta indica, Withania somnifera, Jatropha curcas, Datura inoxia, Polyalthia longifolia and Lantana camara were tested against fungal pathogens of vegetable beans viz. Alternaria alternata, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium pallidoroseum and Macrophomina phaseolina. Out of these medicinal plants Azadirachta indica showed maximum antifungal activity while Datura inoxia showed minimum antifungal activity against the fungi tested. Stem extracts of these plants showed good antifungal activity in comparison to commercially available fungicide fluconazole. These plant extracts can possibly be exploited in the management of fungal diseases of vegetable beans.

Keywords: Antifungal, Disc diffusion method, Vegetable beans, Fungicide.