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Title: CENTAUREA SOLSTITIALIS : ROOT EXTRACT INHIBITION OF PLANT PATHOGENIC FUNGI

Author
item GUERMACHE, FATIHA - USDA-ARS-EBCL
item Widmer, Timothy

Submitted to: International Weed Control Congress Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2004
Publication Date: 9/1/2004
Citation: Guermache, F., Widmer, T.L. 2004. Centaurea solstitialis : root extract inhibition of plant pathogenic fungi. 12th International Conference on Weed Biology, Dijon, France pp. 427-431. INRA, Dijon, France.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Centaurea solstitialis is an invasive weed to the U.S., originating from the Mediterranean region. Very few pathogenic fungi have been found on this weed, especially on the roots. A red exudate, secreted from wounded C. solstitialis roots, was tested for its antifungal properties. A root extract from 12-week-old plants displayed the best results inhibiting the growth of Alternaria helianthi, Fusarium arthrosporioides, F. oxysporum var. meloni, F. solani, Botrytis cinerea, Phytophthora palmivora, and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The most effective extract tested had the highest rate of proteins , phenols and anthocyanins. Purification and identification studies showed the active compound to be related structurally to catechin.