Fungitoxic Effects of Balansia Cyperi

Fungitoxic effects of the fungus Balansia cyperi infecting the sedge Cyperns rotundus were examined. Comparisons of fungal colonizers of B. cyperi-infected and uninfected C. rotundus showed Rhizoctonia solani to inhabit leaves from uninfected plants but not leaves from B. cyperi-infected plants. In vitro bioassays with solvent extracts of B. cyperi mycelia and culture filtrates showed growth inhibition of test fungi, including Fusarium oxysporum and R. solani. Solvent extracts of leaves from B. cyperi-infected plants inhibited growth of most test fungi including F. oxysporum, R. oryzae, and R. solani. Extracts from uninfected plants inhibited the latter two species but to a lesser degree. Results suggest that B. cyperi infecting C. rotundus potentially may deter infection of its host by other more pathogenic fungi.