Efficacy of certain plant extracts against seed-borne infection of Trichoconiella padwickii in paddy (Oryza sativa)

Aqueous extracts of leaves, bark, stems, and seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica L., bulbs of Allium sativum L., rhizome of Zingiber officinale Rasc., leaves of Ocimum basilicum L., and fruits of Azadirachta indica A. Juss were used to control Trichoconiella padwickii (Ganguly) Jain in seeds of paddy (Oryza sativa L.). The seeds were soaked in 10, 20, and 30% extracts (w/v) for 12, 24, and 48 h. All the extracts had significant inhibitory effects on the fungus. Stem, bark, and seed extracts (20% w/v) of S. nux-vomica were more effective than other plant extracts and 0.3% of Mancozeb in controlling the fungus. None of the plant extracts were phytotoxic at the tested concentrations