Control of Late Leaf Spot of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) by Extracts from Non-Host Plant Species

The effects of leaf extracts of 14 different non-host plant species on in vitro conidial germination of Phaeoisariopsis personata, the causal organism of late leaf spot(LLS) of groundnut were evaluated. Aqueous and ethanol leaf extracts of Datura metel, Lawsonia inermis and aqueous leaf extracts of Sphaeranthus indicus at 25%(w/v) concentration completely inhibited the conidial germination of P. personata both at 24h and 48h after incubation. Aqueous leaf extracts of Blumea bifoliata, Eucalyptus globules, Ocimum sanctum and Pongamia pinnata, and ethanol leaf extracts of Azadirachta indica and S. indicus inhibited the conidial germination by >90%. Aqueous and ethanol leaf extract of L. inermis and S. indicus were highly inhibitory to conidial germination up to 1% concentration. Aqueous and ethanol leaf extracts of D. metel and ethanol leaf extract of A. indica were highly inhibitory to P. personata even at 0.01% (100 ppm) concentration. Ethanol leaf extract of A. indica up to $80^{\circ}$, aqueous leaf extracts of D. metel and S. indicus up to $100^{\circ}$, and L. inermis up to $60^{\circ}$, were highly stable and retained their fungitoxic effects. Extract of D. metel was antifungal even after 180 days when it was stored both at room temperature and $4^{\circ}$. Aqueous leaf extract of D. metel at 2% concentration effectively reduced the development of LLS by >60%, under greenhouse conditions both in prophylactic and simultaneous applications. Extracts of D. metel could be a potential economical and an eco-frendly alternative for control of late leaf spot, and its efficacy under field conditions is further being evaluated.