In vivo antifungal activities of 57 plant extracts against six plant pathogenic fungi

Abstract

Methanol extracts of fresh materials of 57 plants were screened for in vivo antifungal activity against Magna-porthe grisea, Corticium sasaki, Botrytis cinerea, Phyto-phthora infestans, Puccinia recondita, and Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei. Among them, seven plant extracts showed disease-control efficacy of more than 90% against at least one of six plant diseases. None of the plant extracts was highly active against tomato gray mold. The methanol extracts of Chloranthus japonicus (roots) (CjR) and Paulownia coreana (stems) (PcS) displayed the highest antifungal activity; the CjR extract controlled the development of rice blast, rice sheath blight, and wheat leaf rust more than 90%, and tomato gray mold and tomato late blight more than 80%. The PcS extract displayed control values of more than 90% against rice blast, wheat leaf rust, and barley powdery mildew and more than 80% against tomato gray mold. The extract of PcS also had a curative activity against rice sheath blight and that of CjR had a little curative activity against rice blast. On the other hand, the extract of Rumex acetocella roots reduced specifically the development of barley powdery mildew. Further studies on the characterization of antifungal substances in antifungal plant extracts are underway and their disease-control efficacy should be examined under greenhouse and field conditions.