Antifungal activity of aqueous and solvent extracts of seeds of Psoralea corylifolia L. against seed borne fungi of maize

Abstract

Antifungal activity of aqueous and solvent extract of seeds of P.corylifolia against five seed borne fungi of maize viz., Curvularia lunata, Dreschslera halodes, Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium cladosporioides and Rhizopus sp. were tested in vitro. In aqueous extract, maximum inhibition was observed in  A.alternata and recorded 95.4% inhibition at 50% concentration followed by C.lunata (86.0%), Rhizopus sp.(82.3%), D. halodes (68.0%) and        C. cladosporioides (57.7%). Significant activity was also observed in 10, 20, 30 and 40% concentration. In solvent extracts tested at 250,500, 750 and 1000μl concentration, maximum inhibition was observed in petroleum ether extract and moderate activity was observed in methanol extract. Compared to synthetic fungicide Bavistin and Thiram, complete inhibition was observed against all the test fungi tested at 2% recommended concentration.