Potentiality of selected plants extracts as green fungicides against fennel soil borne diseases

Fennel (Folium vulgare L.) is susceptible to various fungal diseases such as damping off and root rot. Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium solani, and Pythium aphanidermatum are the causes of these diseases, which radically lower crop productivity in agricultural industries across the globe. Plant extracts can be used to reduce damping off and root rot, so ensuring a sustainable food supply and safeguarding the environment. Thus, extracts of three medicinal crops of pomegranate peel (Punica granatum L.), halfa bar (Cymbopogn proximus), and acacia seeds (Acacia nilotica) in a variety of organic solvents, such as n-hexane, acetone, ethanol 80% (v/v), and water have been studied for their ability to protect fennel plants against diseases using three different concentrations 150, 200, and 250 ppm. The linear development of the fungus M. phaseolina, F. solani, and P. aphanidermatum was significantly reduced by all pomgranate peel, halfa bar, and acacia seed extracts in vitro. The most successful against fungal growth were pomegranate peel extracted with acetone and acacia seeds extracted with ethanol. All extracts at varying doses, significantly reduced fennel plant damping-off and root-rot diseases in greenhouse studies. The best treatments for fennel root rot and damping-off were pomegranate peels extracted with acetone and acacia seeds extracted with ethanol at a concentration of 250 ppm. It was also shown that these extracts stimulated the activity of antioxidants as peroxidase, polyphenoloxidase, and chitinase as well as soluble proteins, which are hydrolytic enzymes. Under field conditions, fennel seeds were treated with three plant extracts: acacia seeds, halfa bar and pomegranate peel at 250 ppm concentrations. According to the results, acetone-extracted pomegranate peel was the most successful treatment. Overall, they showed the greatest improvement in plant growth and yield, as well as volatile oil percentage, and its components throughout both seasons Application of plant extracts may have many benefits for sustainable agriculture, due to several advantages, including improved cultivated plant tolerance to biotic stress, higher crop yields and quality, and a decrease in pesticide use. Based on the findings, plant extract may be used as a natural and eco-friendly fungicide by inducing resistance and utilized as a sustainable.