EVALUATION OF ANTI MICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF PLANT EXTRACTS AGAINST BACTERIAL BLIGHT CAUSING XANTHOMONAS AXONOPODIS IN POMEGRANATE

*Sandhya Deepika D. and Lakshmi Sri M.

ABSTRACT

Bacterial blight of pomegranate caused by Xantomonas axonopodis is a major biotic constraint in India. Many studies were carried out to find alternative methods using safe and natural plant extracts to the existing chemical control methods. In the present study 25 plant extracts with 3 solvents namely Hexane, Chloroform, and Methanol were evaluated for their antibacterial activity against Xanthomonas axonopodis by Well Diffusion method and MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) which was calculated by Broth Dilution method using antibiotic Streptomycin as standard. Among 25 plants extracts Spheranthus indicus, piper Beetle, Tribulus terristris, have shown antibacterial activity from which Chlorofrom extract of Spheranthus indicus has shown highest activity against the pathogen with the inhibition zone of 15mm diameter at 10mg/ml concentration, and with MIC value of 0.8mg/ml. promising for the further study of their plant products.

Keywords: Pomegranate, Bacterial Blight, Xanthomonas axonopodis, plant extracts, Anti bacterial activity.