Efficacy of plant formulations of Andrographis paniculata against soilborne Fusarium verticilloides

Most fungi show mutual association with the plants; some survive on dead and decayingresidues of plants and animals. On the other hand, a few of the soil-borne fungi showpathogenicity to plants and act as plant pathogens. These fungi show destruction and spoilageof crop plants, which ultimately reduces crop production. Fungi cause critical damage to cropsduring germination and growth. Soil-borne fungus Fusarium verticilloides is a fungal pathogenof crop plants. The rot and wilt diseases caused by Fusarium sp. significantly reduce theproduction of crops. Therefore, it is a necessity to search for sustainable strategies to overcomethe pollution of soil and water bodies by synthetic chemical fungicides for the control of fungalpathogens. Dressing of seeds or seedlings of crop plants with extracts of Andrographispaniculata is strategised against fungal infections. The fungi were isolated from the infectedginger crop from agricultural fields, identified by morphological characters and 18S rRNAsequencing. The plant was identified and specimen was deposited. Plant extraction was donefollowed by bioactive compound separation. In order to determine the efficacy of plant extractsagainst fungi, the in vitro effect of leaf extracts by agar agar-based antifungal techniques wasperformed in the present study. The ethanolic extracts and individual andrographolide extractedfrom A. paniculata significantly reduced the mycelial growth of Fusarium verticilloides. Thepresent study would help to increase the productivity of crops by inhibiting the infections bysoil-borne fungal pathogens during the germination and growth stages of crops without adverseeffects on the environment.