Exploring the Pathogenic Fungal Diversity Associated with Medicinal and Ornamental Plants in the Amravati Region, Maharashtra

Abstract An extensive survey conducted from 2009 to 2011 in the Amravati region revealed a significant incidence of foliar fungal diseases affecting both medicinal and ornamental plants. The study focused on commonly found and economically important species, with plants examined for disease symptoms and samples collected for photographic documentation and laboratory analysis. Fungal pathogens were identified through microscopic examination, isolation on agar cultures, and reference to relevant literature. The most common diseases observed in the collected specimens included leaf spots, powdery mildews, and anthracnose, all of which have detrimental effects on the medicinal and ornamental value of the plants. A total of 33 diseases were documented, with 18 affecting ornamental plants and 15 impacting medicinal species. The predominant categories of diseases included 20 instances of leaf spots, 9 cases of powdery mildew, 3 occurrences of anthracnose, and 1 case of downy mildew. The major fungal pathogens identified included Cercospora sp. (6), Fusarium sp. (6), Alternaria sp. (5), Oidium sp. (5), and Colletotrichum sp. (4), with the majority belonging to the class Hyphomycetes. Keywords: Medicinal plants, ornamental plants, fungal diseases.