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Ph.D.
(Science)
EFFICACY STUDY OF SELECTED PLANT EXTRACTS AGAINST BIOTIC
STRESS FOR THE CONSERVATION OF CUMINUM CYMINUM L.

Ph.D. Scholar : Dave Kruti Mukeshbhai
Research Supervisor : Dr. Pritiben H. Patel

Regi. No.: 18276481003
Abstract :
Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) is an essential commodity in Indian agriculture as it is one
of the most noticeable seed spices crops delivered, consumed, and traded from India. It
is, however, susceptible to several major diseases, including wilt, blight, and powdery
mildew, that can cause significant losses in crop yield and quality, and as such, they are a
major concern for farmers and the industry as a whole. The emphasis here is on the wilt
disease as well as its management. The wilt disease is caused by Fusarium oxysporum
f.sp.cumini - a fungal pathogen prevalent all over the world. Chemical fungicides have
traditionally been used to control Fusarium wilt disease, but they can have negative
impacts on the environment and non-target organisms. One approach that has been
explored is the use of plant metabolites and plant-based pesticides. These compounds
are often derived from natural sources such as plants, and they can be less harmful to
the environment than synthetic pesticides. The present study was conducted to develop
an eco-friendly management of cumin wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.
cumini. The study involved using plant extracts of Ricinus communis L., Vitex negundo L.,
Aegle marmelos L., and Moringa oleifera Lam. to test their in- vitro antifungal activity
against the plant pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cumini. Different solvent systems
were used to extract the selected plants, including methanol, acetone, 50% aqueous
methanol, 50% aqueous acetone, dichloromethanol: methanol(1:1), and water. Preliminary
phytochemical examination of all extracts revealed positive results for major
phytoconstitutes such as phenol, flavonoid, alkaloid, tannin, and others. The extracts
were tested at various concentrations using the poison food technique to assess their
antifungal activity on mycelial growth of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cumini and obtained
a favourable result in the form of %inhibition. HPTLC fingerprinting was conducted to
determine the presence of phytoconstituents, and bioautography was performed to
identify specific phytochemicals with antifungal activity. The study revealed that
quercetin and ellagic acid exhibited higher antifungal activity. Control experiment was
performed to analyse plant extracts in vivo. The R50M extract showed the most
encouraging in vivo findings, with a significant reduction in disease incidence and a
higher survival rate. In a nutshell, the study suggests that botanical extracts may be a
promising approach for developing effective plant-based fungicides for the treatment of

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