Antifungal and allelopathic effects of Asafoetida against Trichoderma harzianum and Pleurotus spp.

Methanol extract (MeOH) of Asafoetida oleogum-resin was assayed for its in-vitro ability to control Trichoderma harzianum. The thirty-two components of MeOH-extracted resin were identified by GC-MS analysis. The antifungal and allelopathic effects of the MeOH extracts concentrations against T. harzianum and Pleurotus spp., were investigated in dual culture experiments on an agar-based medium. MeOH extract showed fungistatic and fungicidal properties against T. harzianum strains and Pleurotus spp. at higher concentrations. In dual culture, all strains of T. harzianum were antagonistic to Pleurotus spp. than in control. When MeOH extracts concentrations was added to the substrate culture, the antagonistic activity of T. harzianum against the Pleurotus spp. was moderate (0.625 μg/ml of MeOH extract) or weak (1.25 μg/ml of MeOH extract) against the Pleurotus spp. that either completely or partially replaced T. harzianum. TEM observations revealed that fungal growth inhibition from the MeOH extract was accompanied by marked morphological and cytological changes.