Volume: 4, 2025
4th International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT
Abstract number: P009
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL4.P009
Published online: 9 April 2025
ICDSUPL, 4, P009 (2025)
Laboratory evaluation of the antifungal effect of calendula flower extract (Calendula officinalis L.) and its phytotoxic effect on seeds of selected crops
Weronika Kursa1*, Agnieszka Jamiołkowska1
1 Department of Plant Protection, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Leszczyńskiego 7, 20-069 Lublin, Poland
* Corresponding author: weronika.kursa@up.lublin.pl
Abstract
The acquisition of resistance to active substances and the withdrawal of successive fungicides have led to the acquisition of resistance to active substances and the withdrawal of successive fungicides has led to the search for new solutions in plant protection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the fungistatic effect of marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) flower extract on selected phytopathogenic fungal species (Alternaria alternata – Aa, Botrytis cinerea – Bc, Colletotrichum coccodes – Cc, Mucor hiemalis – Mh, Penicillium expansum – Pe) in the laboratory and to determine the potential of plant extracts as a natural seed treatment. 10% and 20% extract concentrations were used to assess their effect on linear fungal growth and percentage inhibition relative to control. Phytotoxicity tests were carried out on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and dwarf tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) seeds to quantify germination and root elongation in the presence of extracts (10%, 1% and 0.5%). Calendula extract inhibited fungal growth to varying degrees, depending on the fungal species, concentration and duration of the extract. The 20% extract showed the strongest inhibitory effect on the growth of the tested fungi at the beginning of the experiment (days 2 and 4) (Pe -25%; Aa – 41%; Bc – 45.7%; Mh – 54.7%). The exception was Cc, where the greatest inhibition of colony growth (39%) was observed on the last day of the experiment. At the same time, marigold flower extract was highly phytotoxic to seeds of both plant species tested. The extract at all concentrations tested reduced their germination capacity, although statistical differences were observed only at 10% of the extract concentration. In addition, the extract at all concentrations significantly inhibited the growth of germinated seedlings. The strongest phytotoxic effect was observed at the 10% concentration, where the growth of tomato seedlings was inhibited by 100% and that of wheat seedlings by between 92.13% (germ) and 99.41% (root) compared to the control. In contrast, the extract at 0.1% had the weakest effect, affecting plant development to a lesser extent, but not statistically limiting plant growth. Calendula flower extract, despite promising fungistatic properties, cannot be used for seed treatment.
Keywords: plant extracts, marigold, phytotoxicity, pathogenic fungi
How to cite
W. Kursa, A. Jamiołkowska, 2025. Laboratory evaluation of the antifungal effect of calendula flower extract (Calendula officinalis L.) and its phytotoxic effect on seeds of selected crops. In: 4th International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL4.P009