Biocontrol of test pathogen Sclerotium rolfsii

In the present study, biocontrol of test pathogen Sclerotium rolfsii Curzi (MTCC No.-2156) was evaluated. The effect of chloroform
and aqueous extracts of selected plants such as Millettia pinnata L., Cassia tora L. and Moringa oleifera Lam. against Sclerotium rolfsii Curzi were tested. The chloroform extract was more effective than the aqueous extract in controlling the test pathogen Sclerotium rolfsii. The minimum mycelial growth of Sclerotium rolfsii was recorded in seed extract of Millettia pinnata L. with 25.7 mm, using chloroform solvent. Significant inhibition was observed in the extract of Cassia tora L. seed with 26.3 mm mycelia growth. 30.7 mm mycelial growth was recorded in the bark extract of Moringa oleifera Lam. at 10% concentration. Other treatments in chloroform were also effective to control the mycelial growth of the test pathogen Sclerotium rolfsii. In aqueous extracts of selected plants, minimum mycelial growth of Sclerotium rolfsii Curzi was found in the seed extract of Millettia pinnata L. with 33.7 mm. The bark extract of Millettia pinnata L. controlled the mycelial growth with 35.3 mm. The seed extract of Cassia tora L. showed mycelial growth of Sclerotium rolfsii with 40 mm at 10% Concentration. Significant inhibition was also recorded in other prepared extracts of selected plants.