ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF THE CRUDE EXTRACTS OF COLOCASIA ESCULENTA LEAVES IN VITRO ON PLANT PATHOGENIC FUNGI

Abstract

Colocasia esculenta belonging to family Araceae popularly known as “taro” is very useful medicinal plant described by Charaka as an anti-inflammatory plant. An experiment was carried out to study the antifungal activity of alcoholic and aqueous extract of Colocasia esculenta by food poisoning technique against Alternaria blight of chili caused by Alternaria solani and Alternaria blight of castor caused by Alternaria ricini. In anti-fungal study alcoholic extract showed good anti fungal activity than aqueous extract.