Abstract

EVALUATION OF IN VITRO ANTIFUNGAL EFFECTS OF ASPARAGUS RECEMOSUS L. AND TERMINALIA BELLERICA ROXB. ON POST-HARVEST FUNGAL PATHOGENS AFFECTING APPLE FRUITS

Ramesh Baviskar*

Abstract

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of natural medicinal herbs against post-harvest fungal pathogens. Ethanolic extracts of Asparagus racemosus L. and Terminalia bellerica Roxb. were tested at varying concentrations (500, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, and 3000 μg/ml) against dominant fungal pathogens isolated from naturally infected apple fruits, viz. Penicillium expansum, Aspergillus flavus, and Mucor piriformis. Plant materials were collected from various locations across Maharashtra and taxonomically identified. Antifungal susceptibility of ethanolic leaf extracts was assessed using the dilution method, with known antifungal agents serving as positive controls and water extracts as negative controls. The ethanolic extracts exhibited significantly higher antifungal activity compared to the controls. Asparagus racemosus L. demonstrated up to 99% inhibition of mycelial growth at 3000 μg/ml against Penicillium expansum and Aspergillus flavus, while Terminalia bellerica Roxb. showed complete (100%) inhibition of Mucor piriformis at the same concentration. These findings suggest that the leaf extracts possess potent antifungal properties and could serve as effective, natural alternatives for managing post-harvest diseases in fruits.

Keywords: Asparagus racemosus L., Terminalia bellerica Roxb., Plant extracts, Postharvest pathogens, Disease management.