Antifungal Activity of Cow Urine Against Fungal Pathogens Causing Rhizome Rot of Ginger

摘要

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rose., Zingiberaceae) is an important commercial crop grown in India. The production of ginger is greatly influenced by a variety of diseases, among which bacterial wilt, soft rot and yellow disease are important. The present investigation highlights the inhibitory efficacy of fresh and stored cow urine against two phytopathogenic fungi of ginger viz., Pythium apahidermatum and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.ziitgiberi isolated from soft rot specimen of ginger. Urine was collected from an indigenous cow variety 'Malnad gidda'. The effect of various concentrations of fresh and stored cow urine (3 months) viz., 5, 10, 20 and 40% was tested against the mycelial growth of test fungi by poison food technique. The extent of growth oftest fungi in poisoned plates was recorded and compared with the control. Both fresh and stored cow urine displayed concentration dependent inhibition of test fungi. Inhibitory efficacywas recorded higher for stored cow urine than fresh cow urine. The inhibition of test fungi was >50% at 20% and higher concentrations of cow urine. P. aphanidermatum was inhibited to higher extent than F. oxysporum f.sp.zingiberi. It can be concluded that cow urine has got potential to inhibit pathogenic fungi causing rhizome rot of ginger in vitro. Field experiments are to be carried out to justify the possible utilization of cow urine against rhizome rot of ginger.