Antifungal Efficacy of Cordyceps militaris-Mycometabolites against major
fungal diseases of Withania somnifera
Abstract
Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha), a vital medicinal plant, faces
significant losses due to fungal diseases such as root rot, wilt, and
leaf spot caused by Fusarium annulatum and Alternaria
alstroemeriae. To manage these pathogens, metabolites of
Cordyceps militaris were extracted following methods from Vinale
et al. (2006) and others, with modifications. These metabolites were
tested for antifungal efficacy using the poison food technique. Results
showed the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) against F.
annulatum and A. alstroemeriae were 15 mg/mL and 20 mg/mL,
respectively, with cidal effects observed at 20 mg/mL and 30 mg/mL.
In-silico investigations revealed that Cordycepin, a metabolite,
exhibited strong binding affinity to the fungal chitin synthetase
protein. These findings suggest that C. militaris metabolites
could serve as a potential alternative to synthetic fungicides, pending
further research.