Assessment of the antibacterial activity of Cuscuta pedicellata Ledeb.

In search for alternative ways for bacterial fruit lesions control, we evaluated the aqueous decoction and aqueous infusion extract of Cuscuta pedicellata L. for their antibacterial activity against different pathovar of Xanthomonas campestris, the causal agent of this disease. The collected leaves were washed, dried and powdered. Aqueous decoction and aqueous infusion extract were prepared and observed for their antibacterial efficacy by using the well diffusion method in vitro. The significant results obtained showed that both extracts tested inhibited the bacterial growth of pathogen with inhibition zone diameter ranging from 1.0 to 5.0 cm. The aqueous decoction revealed strongest antibacterial activity on X. campestris pv. mangiferaeindicae and X. campestris pv. punicae whereas aqueous infusion extract showed strongest antibacterial activity on X. campestris pv. citri and X. campestris pv. pinicae. The susceptibility of different pathovars of X. campestris to this plant extracts varied. The study indicates the potential of this plant extracts in the management of diseases caused by X. campestris in several important crop plants.   Key words: Biological control, Cuscuta pedicellata, Xanthomonas campestris.