Antifungal Activity of Cow Urine Extracts of Selected Plants Against Phytopathogenic Fungi

The present study was performed to determine inhibitory effect of cow urine extract of 14 plants (belonging to 7 families) against the mycelial growth of two phytopathogenic fungi viz., Colletotrichum capsici (isolate from anthracnose of chilli) and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. zingiberi (isolate from rhizome rot of ginger) by poisoned food technique. The extracts inhibited the mycelial growth of test fungi to a varied extent. Among fungi, C. capsici was susceptible to maximum extent when compared to F. oxysporum. All extracts were effective in inhibiting C. capsici while 10 out of 14 extracts inhibited F. oxysporum. Extent of inhibition of C. capsici and F. oxysporum ranged between 12.50 to 90% and 0.0 to 47.61% respectively. These extracts appear to be useful as antimycotic agents with activity against test fungi especially C. capsici. The cow urine extracts may be used in the management of anthracnose of chilli and rhizome rot of ginger. Further studies in field conditions are to be carried out to justify the observations of this in vitro study.