Antibacterial Activity of Some Herbal Extracts and Traditional Biocontrol Agents against Xanthomonas Axonopodis Punicae V.a.gargade*

Xanthomonas axonopodis punicae is the causative agent of Bacterial blight of Pomegranate that is known to cause yield loss up to 70-90%. The primary disease management method involves mainly use of chemical pesticides. In present investigation the antibacterial activity of extracts of Acacia nilotica, Datura metel, cow urine and butter milk against Xanthomonas axonopodis punicae was studied by using cup diffusion method. The results showed that herbal extracts, fresh cow urine and fresh butter milk and various combinations of these materials showed antibacterial activity against Xanthomonas axonopodis punicae. The highest antibacterial activity was observed for admixture of aqueous extract of Datura metel with aqueous extracts of Acacia nilotica and least activity was observed for ethanol extracts of Acacia nilotica. Among the admixtures with biocontrol agents the maximum activity was detected in mixture of aqueous extract of Datura metel with aqueous extract of Acacia nilotica and fresh cow urine. The qualitative phytochemical analysis of methanolic, ethanolic extracts of Acacia nilotica and methanolic extract of Datura metel showed presence of phytochemicals like Phytosterols, Phenolic compounds, tannins, Saponins, Flavonoids, Proteins and Amino acids. Results indicate that Acacia nilotica, Datura metel, fresh cow urine and fresh butter milk alone or as combinations may be useful in the management of Bacterial blight of pomegranate caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis punicae. FT-IR analysis of fresh cowurine and cowurine distillate was revealed to elucidate chemical nature of active compounds in it.