ASSESSMENT OF THE GROWTH INHIBITING EFFECT OF SATUREJA ESSENTIAL OILS ON DIFFERENT FUSARIUM SPECIES FROM WHEAT

The antifungal effects of essential oils from Satureja species (Satureja cilicica, S. cuneifolia, S. hortensis, S. montana, S. spicigera and S. thymbra) tested for their efficacy against eight Fusarium species (Fusarium avenaceaum, F. culmorum, F. equiseti, F. graminearum, F. oxysporum, F. sambucinum, F. semitectum and F. solani). The oils of Satureja species at three levels of concentrations (10, 20 and 30 mu l of each 20 ml PDA medium) mixed with the medium and then, the mediums were inoculated with fungal isolates. To evaluate the efficacy of oils against the colony growth, the diameter of colonies measured every 24 hours and compared with their controls. The results showed that essential oils have antifungal activity at 0.5, 1, 2, and 5 mu l/20mL concentrations and higher levels of oils (10, 20, and 30 mu l/20 ml). Some fungal isolates (Fusarium avenaceaum, F. graminearum, F. oxysporum, F. sambucinum and F. solani) could grow in the low oils concentration (0.5-5 mu l/20 ml) especially when the fungal isolates treated with the S. cuneifolia oil. The higher concentrations of oil (10, 20, and 30 mu l/20 ml) prevents the colony growth of Fusarium in the medium. The oils showed effective control of the plant pathogenic fungi growth in the medium with 100% inhibitory rates. According to the results of this experiment, the oil of Satureja species has the potential to inhibit the growth of Fusarium species.