ABSTRACT
Colletotrichum capsici Butler & Bisby is an important phytopathogenic fungi causing many diseases (anthracnose or die back in chili, capsicum, 280betel vine, turmeric, ashwagandha, black pepper, cucurbits, etc.) on various horticultural crops; it not only reduces the quality and yield of the infected crops but also enhances the cost of production. The objective of the present study was to determine the antifungal efficacy of foliose macrolichen species, viz., Parmotrema reticulatum and Everniastrum cirrhatum against C. capsici, so that an alternative to the synthetic anti-fungals can be explored. Keeping these views in mind, an in vitro anti-fungal study of the acetone extracts of P. reticulatum and E. cirrhatum (at 5% concentration) was investigated against C. capsici. The observations recorded that efficacy of both the lichens at low doses were not much effective; however, as the doses increased, efficacy also increased. Further, it was recorded that the acetone extracts of P. reticulatum and E. cirrhatum (5% at 50 mL/L concentration) showed cidal efficacy and having similar efficacy to that of the synthetic antifungal “Mancozeb.” This was determined by using the modified spore germination inhibition technique (MSGIT).
Findings of the present investigation show that after detailed in vitro investigations, the active constituents of lichens can be used as a potential substitute of synthetic fungicides.
