Evaluation of Some Antifungal Plant Extracts Against Alternaria brassicae, Inciting Alternaria blight of Mustard

Aqueous extracts of 13 botanicals/plant species were evaluated in vitro (@10, 20%) against Alternaria brassicae, inciting Alternaria blight of mustard (Brassica juncea L.). All the botanicals tested were found fungitoxic and significantly inhibited mycelial growth of A. brassicae over untreated control. However, percentage inhibition of the test pathogen was increased with increase in concentration of the botanicals extract. Among the botanicals evaluated, Azadirachta indica (Neem) was found most fungi toxic and recorded significantly highest mean growth inhibition (80.46%) of the test pathogen. The second and third best botanicals in respect of fungitoxicity were Polyalthia longifolia (Ashoka) and Oscimum sanctum (Tulsi) which recorded next best maximum mean growth inhibition, respectively of 77. 76 and 71. 41 per cent of the test pathogen. This was followed by the botanicals viz., Lantana camera (65. 65%), Datura metal (54. 34%) and Eucalyptus globulus (53. 38%) Zingiber officinale (48. 79), Bougainveillia spectabilis (46. 03%), Vinca rosea (45. 98%), Lawsonia innermis (43. 54%), Tridax procumbens (34. 46%) and Allium sativum (32. 55%). Comparatively, P. hysterophorus (Parthenium) was found least fungitoxic and recorded minimum meant growth inhibition (16. 05%).