Environmental ScienceBiology

A. Zambonelli, A. Z. D’Aulerio, A. Bianchi, A. Albasini

1996.11.1JOURNAL OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY

DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0434.1996.tb00330.x

tlooto Summary

The essential oils of Thymus vulgaris L., of Lavandula R.C. hybrid and Mentha piperita L. were tested in vitro against the pathogenic fungi and SEM observations revealed that these oils cause degeneration of the fungal hyphae which appeared emptied of their cytoplasmic content.

Abstract

The essential oils of Thymus vulgaris L., of Lavandula R.C. hybrid and Mentha piperita L. were tested in vitro against the pathogenic fungi Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn, Pythium ultimum Trow var. ultimum, Fusarium solani (Mart.) Sacc, Colletotrichum lindemuthianum (Sacc. & Magn.) Briosi & Cav. All the oils tested inhibited fungal growth. The most effective oil was that of thyme, with a fungicidal activity attributable to thymol, found in a concentration of 50.06% in the oil tested. SEM observations revealed that these oils cause degeneration of the fungal hyphae which appeared emptied of their cytoplasmic content.

Citation format

ZAMBONELLI, A., et al. Effects of essential oils on phytopathogenic fungi in vitro. JOURNAL OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY, 1996, 144: 491–494.