Potential of rosemary hydrosol for effective growth inhibition of fungi isolated from buckwheat grains

Modern botanical fungicides should be non-toxic and readily available. Hydrosols are by-products of essential oil distillation with a large potential market size. They are, therefore, suitable natural candidates for effective fungicide development. Improving grain quality and safety during storage are significant challenges in the contemporary world. We have therefore tested the possible use of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) hydrosol as an efficient antifungal agent against fungi isolated from buckwheat grain. Fungi from the genus Fusarium were the most susceptible to rosemary hydrosol, as growth inhibition was observed in all tested species by 15 % rosemary hydrosol and in F. graminearum already by 5 % hydrosol concentration. Since there was no inhibitory effect on the germination of buckwheat grain after exposure to rosemary hydrosol, it could potentially be used as an environmentally friendly alternative for suppressing fungal growth on grains.