In Vitro Activity of Essential Oils from San Luis-Argentina Against Ascosphaera apis

Chalkbrood is an invasive mycosis produced by Ascosphaera apis affecting exclusively the larvae growth of Apis mellifera L. There exists no pharmacological treatment and the chemical products used are not able to control the disease generating resistances and residues in the apicultural production. An ecological alternative is the use of essential oils as natural products to control this mycosis. Eight oils were screened against A. apis for fungicidal activity. The oils of Baccharis coridifolia and Eupatorium patens did not possess any activity while the oils of Tessaria absinthioides, Aloysia gratissima, Heterotheca latifolia, Lippia juneliana, L. integrifolia and L. turbinata exhibited varying levels of fungicidal activity.