In vitro antifungal activity of "Gobernadora" (Larrea tridentata (D.C.) Coville) against Phytophthora capsici Leo

In recent years, there has been an increased interest in using herbal extracts and their phytocomponents as an alternative to control plant pathogenic microorganisms, and promote alternative uses of plants from desertic environments. In the present study, the biofungicide activity from extracts of leaves of Larrea tridentata collected from different locations of the Chihuahuan Desert, was evaluated against Phytophthora capsici. The four methods of preparation of the extracts of L. tridentata exert an inhibiting action on P. capsici. A greater activity (P less than or equal to 0.05) was observed in the alcoholic extract in comparison with the powder, followed by decoction and the crude one. The methods used in this study to obtain data in a period of 48 to 72 h for the in vitro selection of the extracts with fungicide effect were considered to be very short when compared with field studies. The results showed an existing potential as an alternative for the control of P. capsici by using different extracts from L. tridentata., which turns out to be a great convenience due to the abundant availability of L. tridentata in Mexican desertic environments. Also, its low cost of handling and the simple techniques of preparation and application promoted therefore a diversification in the use of the biotic resources of desertic ecosystems.