Studies on Alternaria sesami pathogenic to sesame

Influence of pH on the growth of Alternaria sesami, its nutritional requirements and its ability to produce phytotoxic and antibacterial metabolites were tested. The isolate was cultured on Czapek-Dox broth and the culture filtrates were screened for phytotoxicity against seeds and seedlings of sesame. Chloroform extracts of the fungus exhibited antibacterial activity. Analysis of the culture filtrates for identifying toxins using chromatographic techniques revealed the presence of tenuazonic acid.