OLEIC ACID: A MYCOHERBICIDE FROM Cochliobolus lunatus FOR MANAGEMENT OF Echinochloa crusgalli IN PADDY

Cochliobolus lunatus a fungal pathogen of Echinochloa crusgalli (major weed in paddy) was in vitro isolated and proved its pathogenicity against E. crusgalli (a major weed of paddy). Furthermore, phytotoxic compounds responsible for pathogenicity were also isolated from fungus and tested it against E. crusgalli under laboratory conditions. The effective fraction showing 100% mortality of weed was purified through reverse phase HPLC and characterized through NMR, IR and LC-MS spectroscopy. Based on the spectral analysis, the compound was identified as Oleic acid with molecular weight 283 and molecular formula C18H34O2.