In vitro antifungal activity of plant extracts and Bacillus subtilis (Ehrenberg) filtrates against Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid

This research objective was to characterize Euphorbia antisyphilitica, Helianthus annuus and Thymus vulgaris extracts, and to determine their antifungal activity against Macrophomina phaseolina. Additionally, the capacity of filtrates from a Bacillus subtilis (FBS) strain against the same pathogen was evaluated. Phytochemical characterization was performedusing HPLC-MS, while the antifungal activity of the extracts was determined through poisoned medium assays at concentrations ranging from 1 to 80 %. From these results, the inhibitory concentrations at 50 % and 90 % (IC50 and IC90) were obtained. Subsequently, the Detached Leaf Assay (DLA) was used to evaluate the antifungal activity of the extracts and FBS IC90 through the Area Under the Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC). Phenolic compounds from various chemical families were identified. Regarding the antifungal activity, 100 % inhibition was observed using H. annuus and T. vulgarisat a concentration of 20 %. In the DLA assay, FBS and the T. vulgaris and H. annuus extracts were highly effective, limiting the growth of M. phaseolina to 7.14 %, 12.57 %, and 13.86 %, respectively. The results demonstrate that plant extracts and FBS effectively control M. phaseolina.