In vitro evaluation of antifungal potential of selected plant species against Fusarium solani

Abstract. Pant D, Tapwal A, Tiwari B, Thakur JS. 2023. In vitro evaluation of antifungal potential of selected plant species against Fusarium solani. Asian J Nat Prod Biochem 21 (2): 51-57. The hazardous effect of synthetic fungicides is a major concern. Therefore, the development of safe and eco-friendly fungicides is momentarily imperative. The Himalaya is considered a rich repository of floristic diversity, endowed with several medicinally important plant species exhibiting antimicrobial potential. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-mycotic potential of five selected Himalayan plant species viz. Berberis lycium Royle, Zanthoxylum armatum DC., Valeriana jatamansi Jones, Ageratina adenophora (Spreng.) R.M. King & H. Rob. and Polystichum squarrosum (D. Don) Fee by poisoned food technique against Fusarium solani which is considered as one of the major causes of Shisham. Crude extract of B. lycium exhibited maximum growth inhibition (51.58%) of F. solani, followed by Z. armatum (21.94%) and V. jatamansi (21.45%). However, the inhibitory effect of A. adenophora and P. squarrosum extracts on fungal growth was insignificant. Furthermore, the potentials of three solvents (aqueous, ethanol and acetone) were evaluated for the extraction of antimycotic phytochemicals from the leaf of B. lycium and ethanol was found to be comparatively more effective. Phytochemical analysis of a crude extract of B. lycium revealed the presence of different groups of bioactive compounds, such as alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, phenolics and tannins. Thus, the presence of diverse groups of phytochemicals in B. lycium makes it more effective in controlling the growth of F. solani and can be used in the development of eco-friendly fungicides.