IN VITRO EFFICACY OF MOMORDICA CHARANTIA EXTRACTS AGAINST PHYTOPATHOGENIC FUNGI, FUSARIUM OXYSPORUM

The study is aimed at evaluating the antifungal potential of plant parts of Momordica charantia against the Fusarium oxysporum. During investigation ethanolic extracts of stem showed maximum inhibition in both, spore germination (at 50mg/mL) and mycelial growth (at 50% concentration) with 86.10±4.80 and 79.04±1.06 % inhibition respectively. This was followed by root (with 64.81±3.20 and 62.78±2.85%), leaves (64.28±0.00 and 59.55±0.99%), and fruit (50.97±3.40 and 43.99±1.85%). Aqueous extracts of all plant parts showed a comparatively less significant amount of inhibition in spore germination and mycelial growth. Aqueous extracts (at 50 mg/mL concentration) of root showed 48.88±3.85% inhibition in spore germination followed by fruit (39.39±5.24), leaves (37.03±3.20%) and stem (33.32±3.04%). Even at 50% concentration, aqueous extracts of leaves (14.86±1.00%), root (13.11±1.23%), stem (7.04±0.98%), and fruit (4.05±2.01%) was not found effective in inhibiting the mycelial growth of F. oxysporum. Ethanolic extracts of fruit showed 0.625 mg/mL MIC value against F. oxysporum while ethanolic extracts of the leaves and root exhibited 2.5 mg/mL and stems 1.25 mg/mL MIC for F. oxysporum. The plant parts of Momordica charantia were also found rich in phenolics, tannins, flavonoids and saponins. These compounds may be responsible for the antifungal activity of respective plant part.