ANTIFUNGAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF AZADIRACHTA INDICA, VERMOMIA AMAGDALENA AND ZINGIBAL OFFICINALE AGAINST FUNGAL DISEASES OF POTATO

The antifungal and phytochemical analysis of ethanolic extract of azadirachta indica, vermomia amagdalena and zingibal officinale against fungal diseases of potato. Three fungal species, Aspergillus niger, Rhizoctoria and Mucorramosissimus were isolated from diseased potato and kept at room temperature on the laboratory tops for 7 days. The tuber started showing signs of decay after 2 days of exposure. Growth on the potato at the sites of the rot suggested the presence of fungal pathogens. Isolation and culturing of these pathogens gave the identified species as the casual agents. Pathogenicity test confirmed them as the casual organism of the potato rot. The three pathogens were treated with both ethanol and aqueous leaf extracts of the three plants. The three pathogens were completely inhibited by the three plant extracts for both the ethanolic extract at 100% concentration. With respect to ethanolic extract, A. indica, V. Amagdalina and Zingibal officinale, but the reverse was the case with the ethanolic extracts. Ethanolic leaf extract of A. indica, V. Amagdalina and Zingibal officinale may be used effectively as control of fungal diseases of Solanum tuberusom.