## 3 Results and Discussion
### MIC and MFC Determination
As presented in Table 4, a significant positive correlation was found between TPC, TFC and all fungi strains. In fact, for S2 samples, the TFC content showed a strong correlation (\(p<0.01\)) with the anti _F. graminearum_ ISPAVE 271 (\(r=0.983\)), anti _A. alternate_ CTM 10230 (\(r=0.983\)) and anti _A. niger_ CTM 10099 (\(r=0.878\)). In our case, the use of raw phenolic extract from _Spirulina_ sp. and pomegranate peel in combination (S3 and S4) exhibited promising growth inhibitory profile against fungal strains. The phenolic group joined to a single hydroxyl group confers lipophilicities and acidity, important factors in antifungal activity [58]. Phenolic compounds primarily synthesized through the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), shikimate and phenylpropanolid pathways. The oxidative PPP provides erythrose-4-phosphate precursor for the shikimate pathway which converts these sugar phosphates to aromatic amino acids like phenylalanine, which becomes the precursor for the phenylpropanolid pathway. This pathway is responsible for the synthesis of a wide variety of phenolic compounds [59] and plays a vital role in plant growth, regulation of plant metabolism, \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c} \hline \hline  & **Extract** & **MIC** & **MFC** & **Ratio** & **MFC/MIC** & **Interpretation** \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{_Fusarium oxysporum_ (CTM10402)} & S1 & 0.312 & 1.250 & 4 & Fungicidal \\  & S2 & 0.156 & 0.625 & 4 & Fungicidal \\  & S3 & 0.078 & 0.156 & 2 & Fungicidal \\  & S3 & 0.156 & 0.312 & 2 & Fungicidal \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{_Fusarium culmorum_  ISPAVE 21w & S1 & 0.312 & 1.250 & 4 & Fungicidal \\  & S2 & 0.156 & 0.625 & 4 & Fungicidal \\  & S3 & 0.078 & 0.156 & 2 & Fungicidal \\  & S4 & 0.078 & 0.156 & 2 & Fungicidal \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{_Fusarium graminearum_  ISPAVE 271 & S1 & 0.312 & 1.250 & 4 & Fungicidal \\  & S2 & 0.156 & 1.250 & 8 & Fungistatic \\  & S3 & 0.078 & 0.156 & 2 & Fungicidal \\  & S4 & 0.078 & 0.156 & 2 & Fungicidal \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{_A Aspergillus niger_ CTM 10099 & S1 & 1.250 & 5 & 4 & Fungicidal \\  & S2 & 0.625 & 2.5 & 4 & Fungicidal \\  & S3 & 0.312 & 0.625 & 2 & Fungicidal \\  & S4 & 0.312 & 0.625 & 2 & Fungicidal \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{_Alternaria alternata_  CTM 10230 & S1 & 0.312 & 1.250 & 4 & Fungicidal \\  & S2 & 0.156 & 0.312 & 2 & Fungicidal \\  & S3 & 0.078 & 0.156 & 2 & Fungicidal \\  & S4 & 0.156 & 0.312 & 2 & Fungicidal \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular} S1 (pomegranate peel), S2 (_Spirulina_), S3 (pomegranate peel—_Spirulina_: 25%/75%) and S4 (pomegranate peel—_Spirulina_: 50%/50%).  
\end{table} 
Table 3: Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC) values of _Spirulina platensis_ and its combinations with pomegranate peel against Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium culmorum, Fusarium graminearum, _Aspergillus niger_ and _Alternaria alternata_ strains. lignin synthesis and exhibit pharmacological properties such as antitumor, antiviral, antiinflammatory, hypotensive and antifungal activity [59; 60]. For S3 and S4 samples, a significant correlation was found between: (_F. graminearum_ ISPAVE 271, TPC, TFC and TAC) and (_A. niger_ CTM 10099 and all phytochemical contents). For S3 samples, _F. oxysporum_ CTM10402 and _F. culmorum_ ISPAVE 21w were only correlated with TPC and TAC (Table 4), while _A. alternata_ CTM 10230 was correlated with TFC (\(r=-0.758\), \(p<0.05\)). Interestingly, for the S4 sample, anti _A. niger_ CTM 10099 activity had a high correlation with TPC (\(r=0.670\), \(p<0.05\)); TFC (\(r=0.726\), \(p<0.05\)) and TAC (\(r=-0.664\), \(p<0.05\)). Equally, as shown in the Table 4, a strong relationship was found between anti _A. alternata_ CTM 10230 activity, TPC (\(r=0.904\), \(p<0.01\)) and TFC (\(r=0.657\), \(p<0.05\)). Thus, the synergistic effects, and the diversity of TPC, TFC and TAC presented in the combination of pomegranate peel and _spirulina_ ethanolic extracts should be taken into account for their antifungal activities.