Isolation of Paradendryphiella arenaria from Pomegranate Fruit Rot (PMR) and its management with Allium sativum (garlic) and Zingiber officinale (ginger) extracts

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a commercially and nutritionally significant fruit crop, but its cultivation is increasingly threatened by fruit rot disease, leading to substantial reductions in yield, fruit quality, and market value. This study is focussed on identification of the fungal pathogens associated with PMR disease and to evaluate the antifungal efficacy of aqueous extracts of Allium sativum (garlic) and Zingiber officinale (ginger) as potential biological control agents. The fungal isolate from fruit rot was isolated, identified and characterized as Paradendryphiella arenaria based on morphological features and molecular identification using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of rDNA. The plant extracts were assessed for their antifungal activity using standard in vitro assays. The findings revealed key pathogenic fungi involved in rot disease and demonstrated significant antifungal effects of both garlic and ginger extracts. These results suggest that garlic and ginger extracts could serve as effective, eco-friendly alternatives for managing PFR disease contributing to the development of sustainable disease control strategies.