Inhibitory effect of botanical extracts against Alternaria alternata of aloe vera dry rot

Abstract

Aloe vera dry rot caused by Alternaria alternata, is one of the most serious fungal diseases affecting the commercial cultivation of aloe vera in North India. Control of this disease through chemical is quite expensive and not ecofriendly. The plant extracts as biopesticdes act as a vital components for the management of this disease. Evaluation of some plant extracts was carried out against A. alternata in laboratory conditions. The extracts were prepared at 5% and 10% concentration and were evaluated through inhibition in radial growth (food poison technique) and spores (conidia) germination (hanging drop technique) against A. alternata. Neem leaf extract gave 58.6% inhibition in radial growth and 56.5% in spore germination at 10% concentration followed by Ocimum sanctum which was found effective and gave 54.7% inhibition in radial growth and 50.4% in spore germination over control.

Keywords:

• aloe vera
• plant extracts
• Alternaria alternata
• inhibition over control

Acknowledgement

Anamika is thankful to the Head of the Department, Plant Pathology, Allahabad Agricultural Institute (Deemed University) for providing all the laboratory facilities during the research work.