EVALUATION OF ANTIFUNGAL EFFICIENCY OF 3,7-DIHYDROXY 3′,4′ ORTHODIHYDROXY FLAVONE STUDIED IN RELATION TO SOME MORPHOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN PISUM SATIVUM L. PLANTS

Objectives: 3,7-dihydroxy 3′,4′ orthodihydroxy flavone isolated and identified from 50% aqueous ethanolic extract [5] and tested positive in antifungalbioassay against Fusarium oxysporum ciceri [6] was taken up for further detailed analysis of the antifungal property for in vitro study in relation to Pisum sativum L. plants. The study incorporated a comparison of some morphological parameters such as root, shoot, internode, petiole length,leaf and leaflet length, leaf and leaflet number/leaf, the total number of flower/plant, pod/plant, and seeds/pod.Methods: Seeds of P. sativum L. plants were taken up as experimental material for in vitro studies. Six different sets were maintained by presoakingthe seeds with water, 3,7-dihydroxy 3′,4′ orthodihydroxy flavone, and fungicide for 3 hrs. The seeds were grown in pot cultures. At seedling stage,three sets, one from each treatment, were exposed to fungal inoculum following soil drenching method. At the 21st day, 42 day of age,the above-mentioned parameters were studied.Results: Results indicated increased growth of internode, petiole, and shoot length in the plants which were administered with the 3,7-dihydroxy3′,4′ orthodihydroxy flavone. The fungus infested plants exhibited reduced growth of internode, petiole, and shoot length. However, griseofulvin, apopularly used fungicide showed inhibition of growth of all the parameters in healthy as well as in the infected plants. Flowering time was delayed inthe infested plants. Remarkably again, administration of the plant extract quickened the flowering time as similarly as in the healthy plants. Finally, thenumber of seeds per pod in the plant also showed the same promising picture. The 3,7-dihydroxy 3′,4′ orthodihydroxy flavone treated plants showedhigher number of seeds a pod when administered to the healthy and infected plants.Keywords: Fungicide, Inhibition, Inoculums, Infestation