Abstract

Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium solani (Mart.) Sacc, is an economically important disease of potato in Pakistan. Recent studies have shown that plant pathogens can be controlled by plant products as these are biodegradable, exhibit structural diversity and complexity. Presently, antifungal bioassays were conducted to confirm mycotoxic potential of root, shoot and leaf of Parthenium hysterophorus L. against F. solani FCBP-434 using 1 to 4% concentrations of aqueous, methanol and n-hexane extracts. Bioassays revealed that growth of F.solani was greatly inhibited at 1 and 2% concentrations of aqueous and methanol leaf and stem extracts while 3 and 4% concentrations of n-hexane extract proved to be more effective in suppressing growth. Among root extracts, higher concentrations of aqueous and n-hexane exhibited more promising results by causing reduction of 85 and 74%, respectively; whereas, in methanol extract again, lower concentrations were more inhibitory. The study concludes that aqueous and organic extracts of P. hysterophorus have potential to obstruct dreadful effect of pathogenic fungi by suppressing their growth. P. hysterophorusconferred vital and surprisingly stable compounds having inhibitory potential against F. solani FCBP-434.

Key words: Aqueous and organic solvents, biological control, Fusarium wilt, potato, P. hysterophorus.