Abstract

                                Inky cap mushroom (Coprinus sp) possesses vital antifungal properties against the major wilt causing pathogens of banana, tomato and chilli. Wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense in banana, F. o. f. sp. lycopersici in tomato and F.brachygibbosum in chilli were obtained and the antifungal activities of Coprinus cinerea was assessed. Methanolic extract from the fruiting bodies of inky cap C. cinerea consisted of molecules which could inhibit the growth of Fusarium spp at 2000 ppm. Results showed 54.5, 52.2 and 51.1 per cent of mycelia inhibition of F. oxysporum f. sp. cubense, F. o. f. sp. lycopersici and F. brachygibbosum, respectively when the methanolic extract of C. cinerea was used in agar wells in petri dishes. GC-MS analysis of the methanolic extract of the fruiting bodies of inky cap indicated the presence of 9 different compounds viz., formic acid, 2-propenyl ester; acetic acid; D-alanine; N-propargyloxycarbonyl-; isohexyl ester; 4H-Pyran-4-one; 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-; n-hexadecanoic acid; octasiloxane; 1,1,3,3,5,5,7,7,9,9,11,11,13,13,15,15-hexadecamethyl-; 2,7-diphenyl-1,6-dioxopyridazino [4,5:2’,3’] pyrrolo[4’,5’-d]pyridazine; squalene and 2-Nonadecanone 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine. Among these compounds, formic acid, 2-propenyl ester, acetic acid; n-hexadecanoic acid; 2,7-diphenyl-1,6-dioxopyridazino [4,5:2’,3’] pyrrolo[4’,5’-d]pyridazine; squalene; 2-nonadecanone 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine are have been reported to possess antifungal activities.

Key words : Inky cap, Coprinopsis cinerea, GC-MS, Antifungal biomolecules and Fusarium spp