World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

ANTIFUNGAL POTENTIAL OF WEED BIOMASS AGAINST SCLEROTIUM ROLFSII SACC. CAUSING STEM ROT OF GROUNDNUT

Deshmukh R. S.*

ABSTRACT

Groundnut is attacked by over 55 pathogens including viruses. Among these, stem rot caused by Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. is one of the most devastating diseases of Groundnut. Control of this fungus is difficult as it does not produce asexual spores and overwinters as sclerotia on plant debris and in soil. Various methods of control have been investigated but often cannot economically and consistently control stem rot. Considering these facts, the present investigation was undertaken to study efficacy of common, dominant and easily available plants i.e., weeds in the crop fields against Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. in a cost-effective and eco-friendly manner. Among all the test weed plants, Commelina benghalensis L. leaf, stem and root extracts were found to be effective against Sclerotium rolfsii. Among all concentrations (1 %, 5 % and 10 %) of Aqueous and Ethanolic extracts of leaf, stem and root, 10 % Aqueous and Ethanolic extracts of leaf, stem and root of the test weed was found to be most effective. The 10 % Aqueous and Ethanolic extracts of leaf, stem and root inhibited 100 % mycelial growth of the test pathogen. However, among all other test plants, Tridex procumbens L. was found least inhibitory against test pathogen.

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