ANTIFUNGAL EFFECT OF ZINGIBER ZERUMBET EXTRACT AND ITS COMPATIBILITY WITH TOBACCO DECOCTION ? A BIOPESTICIDE.

A study was conducted with the objectivity of assessing the antifungal property of Zingiber zerumbet and compatibility of extract of rhizome of this plant with tobacco decoction a widely used biopesticide by dual culture technique. Out of the six fungal strains tested, Fusarium oxysporum, Corynespora cassiccola and Pithium species were inhibited (64.72%, 50.26% and 50% respectively) by the methanolic extract. The methanolic extract of Zingiber zerumbet did not have any inhibitory effect against fungi viz. Rhizopus, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Aspergillus niger. Green house experiment was done with tomato saplings challenged with Fusarium oxysporum, a pathogen of tomato wilt. From the green house experiment done it was clear that the combination of Zingiber zerumbet extract with tobacco decoction acted as a better bio pesticide than tobacco decoction alone and its impact is markedly seen on different growth parameters of saplings analysed. The mixture can be supposed to be possessing fungicidal as well as insecticidal property.