Antifungal Property of Dihydroxyanthraquinones Against Phytopathogenic Fungi

Fungicidal activities of Cassia obtusifolia extracts and their active principles were tested against Botrytis cinerea, Erysiphe graminis, Phytophthora infestans, Puccinia recondita, Pyricularia grisea, and Rhizoctonia solani, and compared with synthetic fungicides and two dihydroxyanthraquinones. At 1 g/l, the chloroform fraction of C. obtusifolia extracts showed fungicidal activity against B. cinerea, E. graminis, P. infestans, and Py. grisea, and the ethyl acetate fraction showed fungicidal activity against E. graminis and P. infestans. Danthrone was chromatographically isolated from the chloroform fraction and showed fungicidal activity against B. cinerea, E. graminis, P. infestans, and Py. grisea with 68, 100, 78, and 91% control values at 0.5 g/l, respectively. Specifically, alizarin and quinizarin inhibited E. graminis, P. infestans, and Py. Grisea, but did not inhibit the growth of P. recondita and R. solani. These results indicate at least one of the fungicidal actions of danthrone.