Studies on inhibitory activities of antibodies against phytopathogenic fungi: an immunological approach

The major problem in agriculture is that of the fungal pathogens. In this era, where biological control is at focus, and is the centre of crop protection as well as environmental protection, the synthesis of new bio bodies is of utmost need. Fungicides available in the market, though of potential, are pathogen specific and highly pollutive. An attempt was made to raise polyclonal antibodies against Aspergillus niger. Following the particular standardised immunisation schedule, regular injections and periodic tapping were carried out. The IgG purified was used to check cross-reactivity with different crop fungi like Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cicer (FOC), Rhizoctonia bataticola, Botryodiplodia theobromae, Curvularia sp., Alternaria porri and also with Aspergillus niger by two different methods. Liquid test media and the radial growth inhibition test performed in solid media were used to check the inhibition of fungi and cross-reactivity. The results were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) by using Tukey's test at the significance level of p < 0.05. The antibodies were active against all the fungi for more than 15 days except for A. niger in which from the seventh day onwards spore germination was observed. The probable role of antibodies to detect the common antigenic molecule that may be present in all the tested fungi and their role in inhibiting these fungi is discussed.