Effect of essential oils from some higher plants against fungi causing damping-off disease

Abstract

A screening of leaves of 25 taxa of angiosperms was made for their volatile toxicity against damping-off fungi. The volatile substances from Hyptis suaveolens and Ocimum canum were toxic against Pythium aphanidermatum, P. debaryanum and Rhizoctonia solani. The fungitoxicity of the leaves persisted for 15 d of storage. The volatile substances from the leaves of O. canum were thermostable, while those from H. suaveolens were thermolabile. The essential oils exhibited strong potency against the pathogens tested, non-phytotoxic nature to the host plants and superiority over commonly used synthetic fungicides Agrosan G.N. and Captan. The findings indicate the possibility to use these essential oils as potential natural fungicides in management of damping-off pathogens. © 1992 Institute of Experimental Botany.