Preliminary studies on plant pathogen inhibition using four plant extracts

Using growth rate and hanging drop methods, biological activity of four acetone extracts from Sophora flavescens Ait., Galinsoga parviflora Cav., Typhonium giganteum Engl., and Datura stramonium L. were assayed against Fusarium moniliforme, Pyricularia grisea, Helminthosporium maydis, Curvularia lunata, Fulvia fulva, and Fusarium solani. Root extracts of S. flavescens at 0.10 g/ml provided 50% inhibition of mycelium growth rates in several test fungi species, 88.6% inhibition of F. fulva, 70% inhibition of spore germination in the six pathogenic fungi tested, and 100% inhibition of spore germination in P. grisea, H. maydis, and C. lunata. T. giganteum extracts produced spore germination inhibition of 89.5, 96.0, and 99.5% in P. grisea, C. lunata, and F. fulva, respectively.