European journal of molecular biology and biochemistry

STUDY ON POTENTIAL BIOCONTROL AGENT - ANGIOPTERIS EVECTA (FORST) HOFF. AGAINST XANTHOMONAS CAMPESTRIS

A. John De Britto*, D.Herin Sheeba Gracelin and P. Benjamin Jeya Rathna Kumar

bjohnde@yahoo.co.in

A. evecta, Biocontrol agent, Xanthomonas campestris.

A phytopathogenic bacterium, Xanthomonas campestris play on vital role in plants which causes the plant diseases all around the world. Pathovars of Xanthomonas are known to cause diseases on several vegetable and cash crops and are reported to have developed resistance to kanamycin, ampicillin, penicillin and streptomycin. To control the disease causing pathogens, number of synthetic pesticides and antibiotics are used by the farmers. Pesticides have made great contribution for quick and effective management of plant diseases and microbial contaminations in several agricultural commodities. But pesticides cause environmental pollution and many unwanted effects in man. Considering the deleterious effects of synthetic pesticides on life supporting system, there is an urgent need for alternative agents for the management of pathogenic microorganisms. Pteridophytes show medicinal utility and many of them are being used from ancient time. The rich diversity of Indian medicinal ferns has been evaluated for their antimicrobial properties, and this may have proved beneficial for mankind. All the parts like rhizome, stem, fronds, pinnae and spores contain antimicrobial and medicinal potency. Angiopteris evecta is a medicinal fern. Hence, the aim of this study is to evaluate the biocontrol potential of the petroleum ether, chloroform, benzene, methanol and aqueous extracts of fronds of A. evecta against X. campestris. The methanol extracts of the ferns gave successful result against the tested bacteria. Phytochemical analysis of all the extracts revealed that antibacterial activity is due to the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids and phenolic compounds. According to the results of MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) values, A. evecta could be used as potential biocontrol agent for the management of pathogenic bacteria, X. campestris which is known to cause diseases on many vegetables and cash crops.