Antifungal activity of essential oils and their major components on mycelial growth of Colletotrichum coccodes

The effect of five essential oils (anise, peppermint, basil, rosemary and true lavander) and their two most common components on the mycelial growth in Colletotrichum coccodes, economically important phytopathogic fungi and compared with fungicides have been investigated in the study. Tests were conducted in vitro conditions in eight volumes on a PDA substrate in four replicates. The increase in mycelium was measured on the eighth and fifteenth day after the mycelium inoculation. It was found out that some essential oils and components applied at a given volume have a significant antifungal effect, in some examples comparable to fungicides. Anise and peppermint essential oils as well as the anethole component had the best activity and the lowest IC50. Fifteen days after the inoculation of the mycelium, the essential oils had a significantly better antifungal activity compared to their second most represented component.