In vitro Efficacy of Some Fungicides and Plant Extracts on Mucor piriformis Fisher Causing Postharvest Rot of Peach in Kashmir Valley

Peach fruits undergo decay due to postharvest infestation by various pathogens especially fungal pathogens. In this study the fungus associated with the spoilage of peach fruits under storage conditions in Kashmir Valley were isolated and identified on the basis of symptomological, cultural and morphological characteristics. Pathogenicity tests were also carried out on healthy peach fruits. The fungal pathogen isolated were identified as Mucorpiriformis Fisher. Study was also undertaken to observe the antifungal activity of some fungicides and plant extracts against Mucorpyriformis causing Mucor rot of peaches. It was revealed from the study that different concentration of fungicides as well as plant extracts brought about significant reduction in the mycelial growth and spore germination of Mucor piriformis under in vitro conditions. Amongst the tested fungicides, hexaconozole proved highly effective in inhibiting the mycelial growth and spore germination followed by carbendazim, myclobutanil and bitertanol respectively. Amongst the plant extracts, Artemisia absinthium at highest concentration was found most effective followed by P. lanceolata, T. officinale, R. obtusifolius and M. sylvestris at the same concentration. Other concentrations of plant extracts also bought about significant reduction in mycelial growth and spore germination of the test fungus but to a lesser extent.