ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF ESSENTIAL OILS AGAINST GLOMERELLA CINGULATA (STON.) SPAULD. & H. SCHRENK

Sharada Kuinkel, Ram Deo Tiwari and Shandesh Bhattarai*

ABSTRACT

Medicinal and aromatic plant possesses essential oils which may provide possible alternatives to the chemical controls agents. The essential oils from Artemisia indica, Eucalyptus globulus, Juniperus recurva, Mentha arvensis, Thymus linearis and Zanthoxylum armatum were assessed in-vitro for activity against Glomerella cingulata, the causal agent of fruit rot of apple. Pathogenecity test was confirmed by inoculating the pathogen into the healthy fruit. Fungi toxicity was assessed by poisoned food technique using different concentrations (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100%) and the assessment was carried out in terms of percentage of mycelia growth inhibition of the tested fungus. The extracts of all the plants were found to be efficient in inhibiting the mycelia growth. The extract of Thymus linearis and Mentha arvensis completely inhibited the mycelia growth of the fungus at the concentration of 40%; followed by Zanthoxylum armatum at 60%; Eucalyptus globulus at 70%; Juniperus recurva at 80%; and Artemisia indica at 90%. The results showed that the plants harboured the fungi toxic principle that inhibited the mycelial growth. Thymus linearis and Mentha arvensis were found to be more effective in its fungi toxic properties. We recommend the use of plant essential oils as a new promising choice to harmful antifungal treatments which will permit for a safe and environmentally sound and scientifically acceptable management practices for controlling several fungal diseases in Nepal.

Keywords: Antifungal properties, essential oils, fruit, medicinal plants, Nepal