Antifungal Potential of Cyanobacterium Anabaena sphaerica as a Biocontrol Agent Against Phytopathogenic Fungi

Background and Objective: Because of their versatility across various industrial sectors, cyanobacteria are attracting a lot of attention and are a rich source of secondary metabolites. Some of these compounds have an established history for avoiding the growth of fungi. The antifungal activities of the cyanobacterium Anabaena sphaerica.This study evaluates the antifungal potential of the cyanobacterium Anabaena sphaerica as a biological control agent against phytopathogenic fungi. Materials and Methods: Phytochemicals of Anabaena sphaerica were extracted with water, methanol, ethanol, acetone, and petroleum ether. Antifungal activity was performed against four pathogenic fungi (Fusarium oxysporum,Alternaria alternata,Aspergillus flavus and Rhizopus stolonifera) following the disk diffusion method. Results: The presence of phytochemicals flavonoids, terpenoids, phytosterol, alkaloids, amino acids, glycosides, diterpenes, saponins, and sugars were the that were identified in the tested extracts. Based on the measured inhibitory zone widths, the investigated extracts of cyanobacteria Anabaena sphaerica demonstrated a high level of fungicide ability. The findings indicated that Anabaena sphaerica extracts exhibited notable antifungal activity. Conclusion: The cyanobacterium Anabaena sphaerica may be recognized as a possible source of bioactive substances that requires more investigation.