Exploring The Role of Botanical Extracts in Plant Disease Management

Agriculture is the key for global food security is constantly challenged by the biotic stress arising from plant diseases posing significant impact on crop production. Sarclodium oryzae and Rhizoctonia solani are the fungal plant pathogens, posing a significant threat to agricultural productivity. Conventional fungicides are losing their potency due to the development of resistance in pathogens leading to the urgent need for the development of sustainable alternatives. Plant based extracts have been acknowledged for a long time for their potential as biocontrol agents due to their antifungal properties. This study analyses the antagonistic effects of leaf extracts from Calotropis procera , Ailanthus altissima , Lantana camera, Annona squamosa and seed kernel oil from Annona squamosa against Sarclodium oryzae and Rhizoctonia solani . The results demonstrate that all the plant extracts showed antifungal activity against S. oryzae, however no inhibitory effect was seen in R.solani . The findings also suggest the presence of dominant bacterial flora in the extracts, which may explain antagonistic effects observed implying a synergistic relation between plant extracts and associated microbial communities. The bioactive compounds in these extracts contribute to the antimicrobial properties. The findings of this study highlight the potential of plant-based extracts which is enriched with microbial flora as promising biocontrol agents for sustainable agricultural practices. Further research is needed for the identification of active microbial populations and their metabolites which could pave a way for developmental of eco-friendly and effective biocontrol strategies in crop protection.