Antifungal Activity of Essential Oil of Some Medicinal Plants against (Dry Rot of Potato) Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht
Date
2009
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Botany
Abstract
Potato samples were collected from the Kalimati Vegetable Markets of Kathmandu. The
fungus, isolated from the infected potato tubers was identified as Fusarium oxysporum
Schlecht, which causes dry rot disease of potato tubers in storage.
Pathogenecity test was carried out for the conformation of disease. It was confirmed by
inoculating the pathogen in to the healthy tubers. Cinnamomum tamala, Nardostachys
grandiflora, Eucalyptus citriodora and Cymbopogon citratus were hydro-distilled in
laboratory for the extraction of essential oils. The other two essential oils of Mentha
arvensis and Acorus calamus were obtained from the HPPCL. Each essential oil was
diluted to the different concentrations of 40.0µlml
-1
, 20.0µlml
-1
, 10.0µlml
,
2.5µlml
-1
, 1.25µlml
-1
and 0.625µlml
-1
in 80% acetone. Fungitoxicity was assessed by
poisoned food technique. Essential oil of Eucalyptus citriodora showed the highest
fungitoxicity (100%) at the concentration of 20.0µlml
-1
, while essential oil of
Cymbopogon citratus, Nardostachys grandiflora and Acorus calamus showed the
highest fungitoxicity (100%) at the concentration of 40.0µlml
-1.
Similarly, essential oils
of Cinnamomum tamala and Mentha arvensis showed the highest fungitoxicity (90.59%
and 67.60% respectively) at the concentration of 40.0µlml
-1
.
The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of different essential oils was obtained.
The MIC of Eucalyptus citriodora was 20.0µlml
-1
i.e. the complete inhibition of colony
growth of Fusarium oxysporum was seen at 20.0µlml
-1
concentration. Similarly, the
MIC of Cymbopogon citratus, Nardostachys grandiflora and Acorus calamus was
found 40.0µlml
-1
against the mycelial growth of Fusarium oxysporum. Thus,
comparative antifungal activities of 6 different essential oils were observed against
Fusarium oxysporum (the causal agent of dry rot disease of potato tubers in storage).
-1
, 5.0µlml
-1
Description
Keywords
Medicinal plants, Essential oil, Fusarium oxysporum