Antifungal Activity of Some Plant Essential Oils against Alternaria brassicicola (Schw.) Wiltshire

Abstract

The essential oil of six medicinal plants viz. Zanthoxylum armatum (DC), Juniperus recurva Buch-Ham.ex.D.Don, Cymbopogan martini (Roxb) W. Watson, Cymbopogan citratus (DC.)Tra, Mentha arvensis L. and Gaultheria fragrantissima Wall. were assessed in vitro for antifungal activity against, Alternaria brassicicola: the causal organism of leaf spot of cauliflower. Pathogenecity test was conformed by inoculating the Pathogen into healthy cauliflower leaf. The assessment of fungitoxicity was carried out by poisoned food technique using five different concentration (2.5 µlml 5 -1 , 5 µlml -1 , 10 µlml -1 , 20 µlml -1 , 40 µlml -1 ) against the test fungi in terms of mycelial growth inhibition. Among the choosen oil samples, oils of Mentha arvensis, Cymbopogan martini and Cymbopogan citratus were found able to inhibit the mycelial growth of Alternaria brassicicola completely.