In vitro antıfungal activity of Capparis spinosa extract against soil-borne plant pathogens

Soil-borne pathogenic fungi are a significant concern in agriculture, as they greatly reduce crop yield and performance while increasing production costs. In many parts of the world, chemical control has been widely used to manage these pathogens. However, the high cost of fungicides, the development of fungicide resistance, climate change, and growing concerns about their environmental and health impacts on humans and animals have necessitated the search for alternative solutions. The present study, therefore, aimed to evaluate the antifungal activity of alcoholic leaf extract of Capparis spinosa against various soil-borne fungi in vitro, including Rhizoctonia solani, Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium graminearum, and Alternaria alternata. The results revealed that all tested concentrations (250, 500, and 750 mg/100 ml) exhibited varying degrees of antifungal activity. The strongest antifungal effect was observed against F. graminearum at all concentrations, with inhibition indices of 50.64%, 70.07%, and 80.73%, respectively. In contrast, the lowest antifungal activity was recorded against M. phaseolina, with inhibition rates of 48.90%, 59.42%, and 63.56%, respectively. These findings suggest that C. spinosa extract could serve as an effective natural or biological control agent against fungal pathogens. Further extensive studies are recommended to validate its efficacy under greenhouse and field conditions for the management of soil-borne fungi.