The present study was performed to evaluate antifungal activity and GC-MS analysis of leaf extract of Chenopodium mural against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL), a highly problematic soil-borne pathogen of tomato. Dried leaves of C. murale were extracted with methanol for 2 weeks and after evaporating the solvent on a rotary evaporator, antifungal bioassay was carried out against FOL. All concentrations (1 to 5%) significantly reduced FOL biomass by 14-45%. The remaining methanolic extract was fractioned with n-hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate and all these fractions were assayed for their antifungal potential. A 200 mg mL-1 concentration of various sub-fractions reduced fungal biomass significantly by 94-98% over control. All the sub-fractions were subjected to GC-MS analysis that revealed presence of 32 compounds in n-hexane, 2 compounds in chloroform and 13 compounds in ethyl acetate sub-fraction. The predominant compounds in n-hexane sub-fraction were hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester (14.64%), methyl linolenate (16.61%) and g-sitosterol (13.53%). In chloroform sub-fraction, bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (92.31% and in ethyl-acetate sub-fraction, ethyl butyrate (19.57%), dihexyl phthalate (11.19%) and dioctyl phthalate (12.16%) were present in higher concentration.

The present study was carried out to check the antifungal potential of Sisymbrium irio L. shoot extract against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae (FOC). In preliminary bioassays, different concentrations (1 to 5%) of leaf, stem and fruit extracts were evaluated against FOC. All the extracts were effective against the pathogen. However, the leaf extract was found the most effective causing 25-41% decrease in FOC biomass. The fractionation of methanolic leaf extract was done by two organic solvents namely n-hexane and chloroform. Different concentrations (1.56 to 200 mg mL-1) of these fractions were tested against FOC. The n-hexane and chloroform fractions showed inhibitory activity against the pathogen and resulted in 77-93% and 80-96% reduction in biomass of FOC, respectively. GC-MS analysis showed the presence of 24 compounds in n-hexane and 4 compounds in chloroform fraction. In n-hexane fraction, β-sitosterol (18.64%) was the most abundant compound followed by orotic acid, bis(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-, tert-butyldimethylsilyl ester (12.18%), 10-octadecenoic acid, methyl ester (7.90%) and 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, diisooctyl ester (6.05%). Major compounds identified in chloroform fraction were 1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester (50.82%) and di-n-octyl phthalate (33.00%). This study concludes that n-hexane and chloroform fractions of methanolic leaf extract of S. irio contain potent antifungal constituents for the management of FOC.

Few varieties of Cucumber and Number of sprays of Dipterex 80SP were evaluated against fruit fly complex on cucumber (Cucurnis sativus L.). All the tested cucumber varieties (Local/Desi, Royal Silos and Khira L green) did not show any satisfactory resistance against Bactrocera spp. However, Local/Desi variety ranked first in reducing fruit fly infestation followed by Royal Silus and Khira L green, as 36.00% in Desi variety was significantly lower than 52.00 and 70.00% infestation in Royal Silus and Khira L green, respectively. Two to three sprays of Dipterex 80SP, although statistically similar in reducing the fruit fly infestation, were significantly better than one spray and the control treatment.