author(s)
Ragupathi KP, PR Renganayaki, S Sundareswaran, S Mohan Kumar and A Kamalakannan

abstract
Mycomolecules isolated from mushroom possess antimicrobial properties which forms bioactive compounds of high therapeutic and pharmacological value. Antimicrobial principles from macro basidiomycetes against plant pathogens was not yet well explored. In this view, a study was proposed to screen mushroom fungi viz., Lentinus edodes, Volvariella volvaceae, Ganoderma lucidum and Auricularia polytricha against tomato early blight pathogen Alternaria solani. Methanol extracted mycomolecules from the cell free culture of mushroom was used in different experiments of the study. Results from dual culture technique revealed that Ganoderma lucidum showed maximum antifungal activity by inhibiting the mycelial growth of A. solani (67%). Among the various mushroom fungi, G. lucidum cell free culture filtrates exhibited maximum inhibition of spore germination of A. solani (53%) at 24 hours. The methanol extracted metabolite fractions of G. lucidum at 0.2% concentration inhibited maximum mycelial growth of A. solani (69%). Results indicates that methanol extracted cell free culture fractions of G. lucidum possess antifungal activities against the growth of A. solani and these mycomolecules could be further explored for the development of fungicides against the pathogen.