Effect of leaf extracts and steroidal saponin of Cestrum diurnum L. on spore germination and mycelial growth of some fungi

Abstract

The effect of methanolic extract, n-BuOH soluble fraction and a steroidal saponin diurnoside isolated from Cestrum diurnum leaves were tested against phytopathogenci fungi like, Alternaria solani, Chaetomium globosum, Cochliobolus heterostrophus, Curvularia lycopersici, Erisiphe pisi, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici, Helminthosporium maydis, Macrophomina phaseolina, Phoma cajani, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The methanolic extract, n-BuOH soluble fraction and a steroidal saponin diurnoside isolated from Cestrum diurnum leaves exhibited inhibition at 10,000 ppm against Curvularia lycopersici and Helminthosporium maydis. Similarly, under disc diffusion method mycelial growth of test fungi was found to be reduced. Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici and Macrophomina phaseolina were most sensitive at 10,000 ppm.