Study of Various Fungitoxic Properties of Aqueous Extract of Hedychium spicatum against Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn.

Abstract

The aqueous extract of Hedychium spicatum was screened for its antifungal activity against Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn. a causal organism of Black scurf disease of potato. The extract of Hedychium spicatum showed strong antifungal activity against Rhizoctonia solani. The present study highlights the fungitoxic properties of aqueous extract of Hedychium spicatum. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of Hedychium spicatum was found to be 0.5 ml. The nature of toxicity of extract was fungicidal at its MIC. The fungitoxicity of the extract was thermostable up to 60°C.The extract was found to be active even after the storage of 360 days and had no effect on its fungitoxicity. On increasing the number and diameter of fungal discs of the test fungus there was no effect on fungitoxicity, indicating their capacity to sustain heavy inoculums at MIC. The extract of Hedychium spicatum was found to exhibit a broad range of fungitoxic spectrum by inhibiting the mycelial growth of 20 different fungi at its MIC. The fungitoxicity of extract was found greater when compared with some prevalent synthetic chemical fungicides. Therefore, the aqueous extract of Hedychium spicatum can be recommended as potential source of ecofriendly herbal fungicide.

Keywords

• aqueous extract
• fungitoxic properties
• rhizoctonia solani kuhn.
• hedychium spicatum.