Biocontrol potential of Alternaria sp. PMK2, against a devastating weed: Parthenium hysterophorus L

ABSTRACT

Parthenium hysterophorus (Asteraceae) is known as one of the most aggressive invasive weeds, causing severe economic, environmental, human and animal health problems in India and around the world. During a series of extensive surveys for natural enemies of P. hysterophorus, a leaf spot pathogen was isolated from the affected parts of the parthenium following the standard isolation techniques using potato dextrose agar (PDA) and parthenium dextrose agar (PeDA) media. Koch's postulates were performed and found satisfactory for the isolate and proved to be pathogenic to this weed. On the basis of cultural, morphological and molecular characteristics, the pathogen was identified as Alternaria sp. PMK2. The growth of the pathogen was studied on eight selected media and it exhibited varying degrees of growth on different media. Phytotoxicity of fungal cultural filtrates was also confirmed on parthenium leaves in laboratory conditions. Due to the virulent nature of the isolated pathogen, it may be selected for further studies to develop mycoherbicide for control of this devastating weed.

KEYWORDS:

• Culture filtrates
• epiphytotic
• mycoherbicide; pathogenic
• phytotoxicity

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the Director, CABI, International Mycological Institute, Egham, England, for confirming the identification of the isolate. The author also thanks the University Grants Commission, New Delhi for providing financial assistance in the form of Maulana Azad National Fellowship for minority students.

Disclosure statement

The authors don't have any interests of conflict in the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The author also thanks the University Grants Commission, New Delhi, for providing financial assistance in the form of Maulana Azad National Fellowship for minority students.