Phytochemical and mycological investigation ofArtemisia monosperma

Both polar and nonpolar fractions ofArtemisia monosperma were found to contain taraxasterol, taraxasterol acetate, pseudotaraxasterol acetate, lupeol, β-sitosterol and 3′,5-dihydroxy-4′,6,7-trimethoxyflavone. None of the isolated compounds except 3′,5-dihydroxy-4′,6,7-trimethoxyflavone provided successful control againstRhizoctonia damping-off of cotton in a greenhouse experiment when used as seed treatment. However, on evaluation ofA. monosperma dried shoot as amendment on controlling soil-borne plant pathogens, it was effective in decreasing the damping-off disease of cotton caused byRhizoctonia solani and provided a firmer plant stand. Higher doses of amendment (2 and 4%) caused a significant drop in the number of propagules ofR. solani in soil when incorporated 3 and 6 weeks before planting. In most cases incorporation ofA. monosperma in the soil caused a distinct increase in the total fungal population.In vitro studies showed toxicity of diffused or extracted substances fromA. monosperma for growth and pectolytic and cellulolytic enzyme activities of the target pathogen.