PLANT-EXTRACTS - A NONCHEMICAL APPROACH TO CONTROL FUSARIUM DISEASES OF MULBERRY

Leaf extracts of Azadirachta indica, Calotropis gigantea, Eucalyptus s p., Parthenium hysterophorous and Pongamia pinnata were evaluated for their antifungal activity against Fusarium pallidoroseum and F. monili forme var. intermedium causing leaf blights and F. oxysporum causing l eaf spot diseases in mulberry (Morus alba L.). Leaf extract (1:5) of P . pinnata was highly fungitoxic to F. pallidoroseum and F. moniliforme var. intermedium inhibiting their mycelial growth in plates by 78.2% and 84.3%, respectively; whereas C. gigantea and A. indica were most e ffective against F. oxysporum inhibiting its mycelial growth by 78.5% and 73.2%, respectively. Under greenhouse conditions, aqueous leaf ext ract (25%) of P. pinnata reduced the incidence of leaf blights caused by Fusarium pallidoroseum and F. moniliforme var, intermedium by 63.6% and 67.1%, respectively; whereas in case of leaf spot caused by F. ox ysporum, C. gigantea and A. indica both were effective in reducing the leaf spot incidence by 60.2% and 57.2%, respectively.