In Vitro Antifungal Potential Of Different Combination Of Plant Extract Of Some Common Weed Plants Against Fusarium Oxysporum And Erysiphe Polygoni

Abstract

The increasing resistance of phytopathogenic fungi to conventional fungicides has prompted the search for alternative plant-based antifungal agents. This study evaluates the antifungal potential of aqueous extracts prepared from seven commonly occurring weed species: Datura metel, Alternanthera sessilis, Calotropis gigantea, Argemone mexicana, Tridax procumbens, Lantana camara, and Sida acuta. Various polyherbal formulations were tested for their efficacy against Fusarium oxysporum and Erysiphe polygoni, two significant fungal pathogens affecting agricultural crops. Antifungal activity was assessed using the agar well diffusion method on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) plates, with inhibition zones measured after 72 hours of incubation at 25 ± 3 °C. Among the tested formulations, F-5 exhibited the highest antifungal activity, producing consistent inhibition zones of 26 mm against both fungal species, suggesting a broad-spectrum fungicidal effect. Formulation F-4 demonstrated moderate activity. The enhanced performance of F-5 may be attributed to synergistic interactions among its phytochemical constituents. These results underscore the potential of specific polyherbal combinations as effective, eco-friendly antifungal agents for agricultural use.