The Fungicidal Effect of Neem (Azadirachta Indica) Extracts on Some Soil-Borne Pathogens of Gram (Cicer Arietinum)

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Abstract
The effect of aqueous extracts and oil of neem (Azadirachta indica) on four soil-borne pathogens, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri, Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotium rolfsii, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, which incite wilt and rot in gram (Cicer arietinum) was studied. Growth of the four pathogens in liquid medium was inhibited by extracts of leaf, trunk bark, fruit pulp, and oil. Of these four extracts, neem oil showed maximum inhibitory effect. The germination of gram seeds was inhibited at higher concentrations of oil. Oil-treated seeds sown in soil infested with the pathogens singly and intermixed produced disease-free seedlings whereas all the seedlings from untreated seeds exhibited disease symptoms. The fruit pulp suppressed formation of Sclerotium of R. solani at all the concentrations. A possible role of neem extracts and oil in controlling gram diseases in field conditions is suggested.