A novel and Rapid Method for Detecting Bio-fungicide Properties in Plant Species

Abstract

Searching for eco- friendly bio-fungicides have become promising strategy to confront the resistance phenomenon against synthetic fungicides in pathogenic fungi. Unlike the previously described techniques to survey the plants for their secondary toxic metabolites against fungi, a novel technique reported here. The new technique designing on using a detached leaf bioassay and inoculum of Macrophomina phaseolina, the charcoal rot pathogen of sesame. Of an eleven different plant species belong to different families examined with this technique only one species (Giradol, Chrozophora tinctoria of Euphorbiaceae) showed no response to Macrophomina phaseolina inoculation on detached leaf even with wounding. The aseptic aqueously extracted leaf of the Giradol inhibited the growth of the Macrophomina phaseolina by 90% on potato dextrose agar media. This technique is relatively easy, fast and enabling to evaluate for bio- fungicidal existence in several species of plant at the same time.