Suppression of bacterial soft rot of potato by common weed extracts
Abstract
The bactericidal/bacteriostatic activity of nine common plant species. viz. Withania somnifera, Xanthium strumarium, Cenchrus ciliaris, Datura stramonium, Lantana camera, Meliotus indica, Calotropis procera, Solamum surratense and Canabis sativa was tested in vitro against Erwinia carotovora ssp. caratovora, E. caratovora ssp. atroseptica and E. chrysanthemi associated with potato soft rot. The extracts of C. ciliaris, C. procera, S. surraatense and C. saliva were found inhibitory to the test bacterial species. They also showed promise in controlling soft rot of potato.