Antifungal effect of ethanolic extract of commelina erecta l. And richardia brasiliensis gomes

Abstract

Phytopathogens are problems in several crops of interest in Brazil due to the favorable climate in its plantations, especially in the Cerrado region of Mato Grosso do Sul. In this sense, the purpose of this study was to evaluate by spraying using Commelina erecta and Richardia brasiliensis plant extracts on the mycelial growth of Macrophomina phaseolina in bean plants of the carioca variety. The hydroalcoholic extracts were submitted to phytochemical analysis. To evaluate the antifungal activity in vivo, the test was developed via hand spraying the hydroalcoholic solutions of C. erecta and R. brasiliensis plants at concentrations of 800 µg/100 mL, 1200 µg/100 mL, and 1600 µg/100 mL. As a control, the plants were sprayed with water. After the application of the different concentrations on the bean leaves, the fungus was inoculated at the base of the stem, where it showed the progress of the disease. At the 800 µg/100 mL concentration, the disease control for C. erecta was 23.3%, and at the 1600 µg/100 mL concentration, the disease control for R. brasiliensis was 24.7%. The antifungal tendency of the hydroalcoholic extracts against M. phaseolina is attributed to several classes of secondary metabolites, mainly anthraquinones and steroids, with a higher percentage for the C. erecta extract. In addition, the ethanolic extract of the two plants has fungicidal potential and may be useful in M. phaseolina management programs.