Evaluation of the effect of the Zielony Busz fertilizer on selected phytopathogenic fungi growth in vitro

The aim of the research was the laboratory evaluation of the fungistatic effect of the Zielony Busz (ZB) organic-mineral fertiliser on the linear growth of polyphagic phytopathogenic fungi Alternaria alternata, Colletotrichum coccodes, Fusarium avenaceum, Fusarium equiseti and Fusarium oxysporum. The preparation was applied to the medium (PDA potato-glucose agar) in concentrations of 2% and 5%, compared to 0.05% azox- ystrobin (relative control) and pure PDA medium (absolute con- trol). The strongest antifungal effect of the Zielony Busz fertilizer was found at the 5% concentration in reference to A. alternata (inhibition of colony growth at the level of 50–52% compared to the absolute control; 20–41.7% compared to azoxystrobin) and C. coccodes (18.2–53.3% growth inhibition compared to abso- lute control). Weaker inhibitory effect of 5% concentration of the fertilizer was noted against F. avenaceum (10.5% inhibition of colony growth compared to absolute control) and F. oxysporum (20% inhibition compared to absolute control), but only at the beginning of the experiment. The Zielony Busz fertilizer at a con- centration of 2% caused the surface growth of all tested fungi, especially F. equiseti. The best effects of the fungistatic effect of the fertilizer were obtained in the first days of the experiment (4th day) with a 5% concentration of the product in the substrate. With time, the antifungal activity of fertilizer decreased significantl

Attempts to Use Hemp (<i>Cannabis sativa</i> L. var. <i>sativa</i>) Inflorescence Extract to Limit the Growth of Fungi Occurring in Agricultural Crops

The primary objective of this investigation was to assess the potential applicability of hemp (Cannabis sativa L. var. sativa) lateral inflorescence extract in mitigating the growth of fungi, including phytopathogens, on agricultural plants. The extract, comprising a blend of biologically active compounds, holds promise for integration into contemporary plant protection methodologies. The research involved a comprehensive analysis of the extract’s chemical composition, encompassing the determination of total polyphenol and flavonoid content (utilizing spectrophotometric methods), antioxidant activity (evaluated through the DPPH method employing synthetic 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical), and cannabinoid content (analyzed using HPLC techniques). Additionally, this study employed the poisoned substrate method to gauge the impact of 5, 10, and 20% extract concentrations on the growth of various microfungi, including Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum coccodes, Fusarium avenaceum, F. culmorum, F. graminearum, F. oxysporum, F. sporotrichioides, and Trichoderma koningii. The hemp extract demonstrated a substantial presence of total polyphenolic compounds, with polyphenol and flavonoid concentrations measuring 149.65 mg/mL and 1.55 mg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the extract contained cannabinoids at a concentration of 0.12%. The most pronounced antifungal activity was observed with the 20% extract, particularly against T. koningii (62.22–84.79%), C. coccodes (61.65–81.82%), and B. cinerea (45.00–75.42%). However, the efficacy of hemp extracts exhibited large differences against Fusarium spp. (3.10–72.95%), dependent on the specific extract and fungus strain. Introduction of hemp extracts to the substrate induced a reduction in substrate pigment and a discernible color alteration in the mycelium to a lighter shade compared to the control. These findings mark the initial phase in the exploration of practical applications for plant extracts, setting the groundwork for subsequent field trials to ascertain the extract’s impact on phytotoxicity and the health status of agricultural plants

Antifungal Effect of Plant Extracts on the Growth of the Cereal Pathogen <i>Fusarium</i> spp.—An In Vitro Study

The aim of the study was a laboratory evaluation of the antifungal effect of leaf extracts from yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.), tansy (Tanacetum vulgare L.), sage (Salvia officinalis L.) and wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.) on fungi of the genus Fusarium, major cereal pathogens. The study used 5%, 10%, and 20% concentrations of plant extracts, evaluating their effect on the linear growth of Fusarium avenaceum, F. culmorum, F. graminearum, F. sporotrichioides and the percentage of their growth inhibition compared to control. The study also included the assessment of the content of selected biologically active compounds in plant extracts and their impact on the development of the aforementioned pathogenic fungi. The total content of polyphenols and flavonoids in the extracts was assessed by spectrophotometry, and antioxidant activity was determined using the synthetic 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical. Plant extracts from sage were characterized by the highest polyphenol contents (81.95 mg/mL) and flavonoids (21.12 mg/mL) compared to other plant extracts, and also showed the highest antioxidant activity (102.44 mM Trolox). Wormwood extract contained the lowest amount of phenolic compounds (flavonoids—5.30 mg/mL, polyphenols—43.83 mg/mL). Plant extracts inhibited the mycelia growth of fungal pathogen depending upon the fungus species, type of extract and its concentration. The extracts of sage (S) and tansy (T) plants at a concentration of 20% demonstrated strong inhibitory effect against the tested fungi (the highest inhibition coefficient for S20: 83.53%; T20: 72.58%), while 10% and 5% extracts of these plants were less effective in inhibiting the growth of Fusarium (highest inhibition coefficient for S10: 71.33%; S5: 54.14%; T10: 56.67%; T5: 38.64%). Yarrow (Y) and wormwood (W) extracts showed low fungistatic effect. Their 20% concentration inhibited the development of mycelia growth of fungi at the level of 63.82% (W20) and 67.57% (Y20). The 5% and 10% concentrations of these plant extracts had the weakest effect on the tested fungi (Y5: 34.09; W5: 42.06%; Y10: 45.01%; W10: 57.44%), even stimulating the Fusarium growth compared to the control (Y5: −23.7%). Based on the study, it was found that each species of fungus reacted differently to the addition of the extract to the culture medium and its concentration, however F. avenaceum and F. culmorum were the most sensitive fungi, while the least sensitive was F. graminearum. The results of the research are the preliminary phase for further field tests to determine the fungistatic effect of plant extracts in field conditions, their phytotoxicity and biological stability, as well as the possibility of producing a biopreparation to protect plants against fusariosis