Full Length Research Paper
Abstract
Herbs and spices are amongst the most important targets to search for natural antimicrobial, antifungal and antioxidants from the safety point of view. Leaf extract, seed powder and oil are known to exhibit the anti fungal as well as antibacterial properties. The investigations were designed to evaluate the potential of aqueous extract of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill) against three soil borne fungi namely: Macrophomina phaseoli, Rhizocotina solani and Fusarium moniliforme. The test fungal species were grown in 100 ml liquid extract medium containing 20 ml each of 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60% w/v leaf extract of fennel and growth of fungi was monitored periodically after 5, 10 and 15 days of incubation. Concentrations of 10, 20 and 30% extracts of F. vulgare reduced the fungal biomass production in all tested pathogenic fungal species especially in initial growth stage. Fusaruim was found to be least influenced by the applied aqueous extracts. The higher concentrations of 40, 50 and 60% aqueous extract of F. vulgare markedly enhanced fungal biomass production at all the harvest intervals.
Key words: Fungal, anti fungal, soil born disease.
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