Performance of aqueous extract of Aegle marmelos based Amaext-a, an antifungal product against Pyricularia grisea causing blast disease of rice

Abstract

In order to enhance the efficacy of aqueous extract of Aegle marmelos, a present study was undertaken. The aqueous extract was combined with a formulating agent (coded B+) and named Amaext-a, bioassayed under in vitro condition against Pyricularia grisea Sacc. causing blast disease of rice. The product was found to inhibit conidial germination completely at 0.1% concentration and mycelial growth at 1% concentration, whereas the extract alone could inhibit the germination only partially at the same concentration. The formulated product, Amaext-a, retained its fungitoxicity till 18 months storage period in all treatments. In a separate test, the efficacy of the product was also accessed in the greenhouse and under field condition, and compared with the standard fungicide carbendazim. This formulated product has therefore improved the efficacy of fungitoxicity compared to the unformulated botanical extract under in vitro and in vivo conditions and so found comparable with standard fungicide carbendazim (Bavistin 50% wp).

Keywords:

• formulating agent
• Amaext-a
• Aegle marmelos
• Pyricularia grisea Sacc.
• aqueous extract
• fungitoxicity

Acknowledgements

The senior author acknowledges, with thanks to, the Director, Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI, Indian Council of Agricultural Research), Cuttack, Odisha, India, for the funds and facilities, and to Dr A.V. Suriya Rao (former head, Department of statistics at CRRI) for statistical analysis.