Efficacy of plant formulations of Andrographis paniculata against soilborne Fusarium verticilloides

Most fungi show mutual association with the plants; some survive on dead and decaying
residues of plants and animals. On the other hand, a few of the soil-borne fungi show
pathogenicity to plants and act as plant pathogens. These fungi show destruction and spoilage
of crop plants, which ultimately reduces crop production. Fungi cause critical damage to crops
during germination and growth. Soil-borne fungus Fusarium verticilloides is a fungal pathogen
of crop plants. The rot and wilt diseases caused by Fusarium sp. significantly reduce the
production of crops. Therefore, it is a necessity to search for sustainable strategies to overcome
the pollution of soil and water bodies by synthetic chemical fungicides for the control of fungal
pathogens. Dressing of seeds or seedlings of crop plants with extracts of Andrographis
paniculata is strategised against fungal infections. The fungi were isolated from the infected
ginger crop from agricultural fields, identified by morphological characters and 18S rRNA
sequencing. The plant was identified and specimen was deposited. Plant extraction was done
followed by bioactive compound separation. In order to determine the efficacy of plant extracts
against fungi, the in vitro effect of leaf extracts by agar agar-based antifungal techniques was
performed in the present study. The ethanolic extracts and individual andrographolide extracted
from A. paniculata significantly reduced the mycelial growth of Fusarium verticilloides. The
present study would help to increase the productivity of crops by inhibiting the infections by
soil-borne fungal pathogens during the germination and growth stages of crops without adverse
effects on the environment.