Antifungal Activity of Four Plant Essential Oils against Phytopathogenic Fungi Fusarium Oxysporum

摘要

Fusarium oxysporum is an omnipresent fungus thatincludes both pathogenic and non-pathogenic members. Thepathogenic strains are best known for causing fusarium wilt diseasesof many economically important crops. Synthetic fungicides are theonly method to control Fusarium wilts. However, owing to theiradverse effects on humans and the environment they are beingreplaced with natural alternatives. The search of alternativefungicides has been focused on the use of natural compoundsobtained from plant sources. These are less toxic and environmentalfriendly. In the present study the inhibitory effect of four essential oils(mentha, eucalyptus, orange and lemon grass) was investigatedagainst F. oxysporum. Fungal growth inhibition bioassay wasconducted to test the efficacy of essential oil (EO). Growth inhibitionstudies showed that all the essential oils were inhibited the fungusexcept orange oil which was not effective as compared to others.Lemongrass oil followed by mentha and eucalyptus oil were mostpotent. Lemon grass oil completely inhibited the growth of fungus inall the concentrations tested.