Antifungal activity of essential oil of Tinospora cordifolia against storage fungi of wheat

Abstract

Sixteen fungal species belonging to Alternaria, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium, Rhizopus, Trichoderma and Trichothecium genera were found to be associated in stored wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grains and Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus niger, A. ochraceus and A. terreus were identified to be associated with wheat storage. The essential oil isolated from leaf of Tinospora cordifolia showed absolute inhibitory activity (MIC) of 100 per cent against all the test fungi at 400 ppm concentration except Aspergillus candidus and Fusraium moniliform where MIC was reported at 800 and 600 ppm, respectively. The detailed investigation of the Tinospora oil was made with the major dominant fungi, Fusarium oxysporum and Aspergillus niger, where MIC was recorded as 400 ppm. No adverse effect in the antifungal activity of the oil was recorded against the two test fungi after autoclaving. No adverse effect was also observed for a storage period of 120 days on fungal inhibitory activity of the oil (400 ppm). The comparative study showed that Tinospora oil was more effective than standard commercial pesticides such as copper oxychloride and carbendazim. The results of our study suggests that Tinospora leaf oil can be exploited effectively in the management of seed-borne pathogenic fungi and prevent bio-deterioration of wheat grains during storage.