The Effect of a Garlic Extract and Root Substrate on Soilborne Fungal Pathogens

Abstract

Pythium aphanidermatum, Pythium irregulare, Pythium ultimum, Phytophthora cinnomomi, Phytophthora nicotianae, Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium oxysporum, and Thielaviopsis basicoli grew and eventually covered petri plates containing a nutrient solution alone, but they failed to grow in nutrient solutions containing 10% or higher levels of garlic extract or a fungicide control. When plugs containing the fungal organisms exposed to 10% garlic (Allium sativum) extract solution for 48 h were washed and transferred to fresh cornmeal agar (CMA) growth medium, only F. oxysporum displayed growth. However, growth of F. oxysporum was limited to no greater than 2 mm from the original inoculum plug. After a single application of a solution containing at least 35% garlic extract or two applications containing 25%, viable P. aphanidermatum could not be recovered from a peat-based root substrate. By contrast, after a single application of a solution containing 25% garlic extract or two applications of 10%, we were unable to recover viable P. aphanidermatum from a sand substrate. When peat treated with increasing concentrations of garlic extract was placed on CMA inoculated with P. aphanidermatum, the first visual sign of a zone of inhibition occurred for peat saturated with 30% garlic extract solution and the zone increased as the garlic extract concentration increased. By contrast, when sand treated with increasing concentrations of garlic extract was placed on CMA inoculated with P. aphanidermatum, the first visual sign of a zone of inhibition occurred when saturated with 10% garlic extract solution. Therefore, the garlic extract was found to be fungicidal against a broad range of soilborne fungal organisms, but the concentration required to kill the organisms varied depending on root substrate.