Antifungal Potential of Spices and Medicinal Herb against Selected Phytopathogenic Soil-Borne Fungi

Author: Sacchi Sneha, S. Maurya and A.K. Choudhary

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Abstract

Indian spices and botanicals are popular for their aromatic and therapeutic properties. Spices possess anti-oxidant, anti-spasmodic and immune boosting potential. Some botanicals besides having medicinal importance also flavor Indian cuisines. These can also be utilized for the management of soil-borne phytopathogens like Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotium rolfsii. Since overuse of synthetic pesticides against phytopathogens had caused detrimental effect on human health and on the entire ecosystem. Hence; present study focuses on the selection of seven botanicals such as Allium sativum (Garlic), Myristica fragrans (Nutmeg), Piper nigrum (Black pepper), Trachyspermum ammi (Ajwain), Terminalia chebula (Myrobalan), Trigonella foenumgraecum (Fenugreek) and Zingiber officinale (Ginger) for eco-friendly disease management. The selected botanicals were investigated for their in vitro antifungal potential against three deadly soil-borne sclerotia fungi. The efficacies of aqueous extracts of selected spices were compared with two known synthetic fungicides viz., Carbendazim and Mancozeb. At 5% concentration; the aqueous extracts of M. fragrans, P. nigrum, T. chebula and T. ammi showed strong antifungal efficacy by inhibiting 90% mycelial growth of R. solani and S. rolfsii. Similarly; A. sativum and T. ammi extracts inhibited 100% mycelia growth of S. sclerotiorum at 5% concentration. Henceforth, the present finding confirms the presence of fungitoxic component in the selected botanicals which might got solubilize into their aqueous extracts. As compared to synthetic pesticides; use of such spices and herb through crop rotation would increase the soil quality. Even their crude extract spray would lessen the financial burden on farmers. Transformation of the active principle to nano particle would open up the way towards sustainable disease management strategy.

Keywords

Botanicals, Eco-friendly, antifungal, R. solani, S. rolfsii, S. sclerotiorum

Conclusion

Previous works and the present study on spices and medicinal herb showed that the active principle present within them got exposed in their aqueous extracts (Dutta et al., 2004). The compound present within them showed high degree of antifungal properties against three selected deadly phytopathogens viz. R. solani, S. rolfsii and S. sclerotiorum. The efficacies of these botanicals had similar effect unlike the selected synthetic fungicides namely Carbendazim 50WP & Mancozeb 75WP. This experiment demonstrates that use of spices: the underground crop like garlic, ginger or above ground plants like fenugreek, black pepper and ajwain when introduced through crop rotation system to the field; might even show allelopathic effect against above soils borne sclerotial fungi. The antifungal compounds present within these spices and medicinal herbs when isolated and synthesized as bioformulations would pace up the disease management strategies against soil-borne phytopathogens.

References

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How to cite this article

Sacchi Sneha, S. Maurya and A.K. Choudhary (2023). Antifungal Potential of Spices and Medicinal Herb Against Selected Phytopathogenic Soil-Borne Fungi. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(5a): 12-16.