Evaluation of the Antifungal Eff Evaluation of the Antifungal Effects of Datura stramonium Extracts on Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Rhizoctonia solani under In Vitro Conditions

Abstract

In this study, the antifungal effects of methanol and ethanol extracts obtained from the aerial green parts of Datura stramonium were investigated under in vitro conditions against the significant plant pathogens Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Rhizoctonia solani. These pathogens cause severe losses in the production and yield of many plant species. Different concentrations (1.0%, 2.0%, and 4.0%) of Datura stramonium extracts were applied to both pathogens, and the obtained data were compared. The results revealed that the methanolic extract exhibited higher antifungal activity compared to the ethanolic extract. Accordingly, the methanol extract provided 12% greater inhibition against S. sclerotiorum and 22% greater inhibition against R. solani than the ethanol extract. It was observed that the antifungal effect increased in a dose-dependent manner, and at a 4.0% concentration in both solvents, mycelial growth of S. sclerotiorum and R. solani was completely inhibited. The highest inhibition effect was observed in the 2% concentration of the methanolic extract, where R. solani mycelial growth was suppressed by 77.77%, and S. sclerotiorum by 72.22%. In contrast, the antifungal activity of ethanolic extracts at the same concentration was found to be lower. In conclusion, extracts obtained from the aerial green parts of Datura stramonium have been shown to possess antifungal potential against plant pathogens when dissolved in different solvents. This suggests that they could be evaluated as a natural biofungicide source for controlling phytopathogenic fungi.