In vitro bio-efficacy of botanicals against Corynespora cassiicola (Berk. and Curt.) Wei causing target leaf spot of soybean

Abstract

Soybean target leaf spot [Corynespora cassiicola (Berk. and Curt.) Wei] is gaining importance in major soybean growing regions of Karnataka. To reduce the use of synthetic fungicides for management of the disease, an effort was made to evaluate the efficacy of different botanicals for their antifungal activity against the pathogen. The present in vitro study was conducted during September 2018 at Department of Plant Pathology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka, India. Among the six different plant extracts tested, maximum mycelium inhibition was observed in garlic clove extract (73.72%) followed by ginger rhizome extract (65.68%). Whereas, least inhibition of mycelial growth was observed in datura leaf extract (12.74%). Among the commercially available botanicals, complete (100%) mycelial inhibition was observed in herbal mixture which is commercially known as Perfekt. Biological control through the use of plant products is a potential non-chemical means of controlling plant disease by reducing inoculum levels of the pathogens.