In vitro antifungal potency of neem and weed extracts against Rhizoctonia solani, the causal agent of sheath blight of rice

Abstract

The antifungal activity of aqueous leaf extract of Azadiracta indica, Fimbristylis miliacea, Arenaria serpyllifoia, Mitracarpus villosus, Mianthium stellatum, Croton sparsiflorus, Ocimum sanctum, Lepidium sativum, Cassia auriculata and Corchorus olitorius was investigated against Rhizoctonia solani. At 10% concentration, the maximum antifungal potential was observed with the extracts of Azadiracta indica, which revealed 57 percent inhibitory activity against R. solani, followed by leaf extract of Fimbristylis miliacea (54%) and Arenaria serpyllifoia (51%). The application of botanical extracts for disease management could be less expensive, less polluting and ecofriendly.