USING EXTRACTS OF LAMB'S QUARTERS WEED FOR CONTROL OF Alternaria alternata

Abstract

Antifungal potential of extracts of different parts of lamb's quarters weed (Chenopodium album L.) against a plant pathogenic fungus Alternaria alternate assessed through laboratory bioassays. Different parts of the weed were soaked in methanol for two weeks to get the extracts. The solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure, and different concentrations of the extracts of each plant part (1 to 5%) were prepared in malt extract broth. Leaf, root and fruit extracts exhibited pronounced antifungal activity resulting in 23–95%, 29–96% and 9–94% suppression in biomass of A. alternata. The effect of stem extract was insignificant. This study concludes that all parts of C. album except stem contain potent antifungal constituents to control A. alternata.