PHYTOCHEMICAL AND MYCOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF ARTEMISIA-MONOSPERMA

Both polar and nonpolar fractions of Artemisia monosperma were found t o contain taraxasterol, taraxasterol acetate, pseudotaraxasterol aceta te, lupeol, beta-sitosterol and 3',5-dihydroxy-4',6,7-trimethoxyflavon e. None of the isolated compounds except 3',5-dihydroxy-4',6,7-trimeth oxyflavone provided successful control against Rhizoctonia damping-off of cotton in a greenhouse experiment when used as seed treatment. How ever, on evaluation of A. monosperma dried shoot as amendment on contr olling soil-borne plant pathogens, it was effective in decreasing the damping-off disease of cotton caused by Rhizoctonia solani and provide d a finner plant stand. Higher doses of amendment (2 and 4 %) caused a significant drop in the number of propagules of R solani in soil when incorporated 3 and 6 weeks before planting. In most cases incorporati on of A. monosperma in the soil caused a distinct increase in the tota l fungal population. In vitro studies showed toxicity of diffused or e xtracted substances from A. monosperma for growth and pectolytic and c ellulolytic enzyme activities of the target pathogen.