Antifungal Activity of Eight Plant Extracts against Macrophomina phaseolina by Agar Well Diffusion Method

Abstract

Macrophomina phaseolina is a devastating fungal pathogen that causes charcoal rot disease in a wide range of crops, leading to significant yield losses. In the present study, we investigated the antifungal activity of eight plant extracts viz., Coriandrum sativum, Cymbopogon citratus, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Mangifera indica, Mentha piperita L, Moringa oleifera, Psidium guajava L, Trigonella foenum against Macrophomina phaseolina by agar well diffusion method. Macrophomina phaseolina was isolated from watermelon seeds (Citrullus lanatus) by agar plate method. Plant extracts were prepared by drying the washed plant samples followed by grinding it to fine powder, sieving and soaking in 50% ethanol with periodic shaking for 48 hours. After 48 hours plant extracts were purified and kept in fumigator for evaporating the solvent. 50% ethanol and itraconazole were used as control. The aim of this study is to identify potential natural sources of antifungal compounds that could be used in the development of eco-friendly and sustainable strategies for the management of this pathogen. The plant extracts were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on the mycelial growth and spore germination of Macrophomina phaseolina. Our results demonstrate that Macrophomina phaseolina was resistant to the plant extracts and the commercial antifungal agent tested.