Screening of Alternaria Pathogens Associated with Parthenium hysterophorus for the Production of Lignocellulolytic Enzymes

In the present investigation five pathogenic fungal isolates such as Alternaria alternata, Alternaria macrospora MKP2, Alternaria macrospora MKP4 Alternaria sp. PMK1 and Alternaria sp. PMK2, were isolated from diseased leaves of parthenium plant and found to be pathogenic to this weed. Isolated pathogens were screened qualitatively and quantitatively for lignocellulolytic activities. All the fungal pathogens were preliminary screened by qualitative assay and showed positive results by zone formation on respective agar plates. In quantitative assay all the isolates of Alternaria showed the production of one or the other lignocellulolytic enzymes. Enzymes of the pathogenic fungi are degraders of the polysaccharides available in the host plants and the strong enzymatic activities indicating the importance of the cell wall degrading enzymes in pathogenesis and potential of these pathogenic fungi to be used as biocontrol agent against parthenium weed.