<b> Antifungal activity of bergenin, a constituent of <i>Flueggea microcarpa</i> </b>

Abstract

The antifungal activity of bergenin against some plant pathogenic fungi, namely, Alternaria alternata , A. brassicae , A. carthami , Fusarium udum , F. oxysporum f.sp. ciceri , Curvularia lunata and Erysiphe pisi , was studied. Bergenin as its monosodium salt was effective against all the fungi and the effective dose for complete inhibition of spore germination varied from 15 μg mL −1 for F. udum to 125 μg mL −1 for E. pisi . Experiments on the effect of bergenin on powdery mildew development under glasshouse conditions revealed that it can control powdery mildew of pea at 2000 μg mL −1 by postinoculation treatment, the results being comparable with those of carbendazim (1000 μg mL −1 ) and wettable sulfur (2000 μg mL −1 ). It affected hyphal elongation and the number of primary and secondary branches.