In vitro ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF ESSENTIAL OILS AGAINST Fusarium verticillioides AND Fusarium pseudograminearum IN MAIZE

Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium pseudograminearum causes economic loss in maize (Zea mays L.). While the expected effect is not seen in the fungicides applied in the control against the disease, it also threatens the environment and human health. For this reason, plant essential oils stand out as a good alternative to chemical control. In this study, it was aimed to determine in vitro antifungal activity of five different plant essential oils belonging to different families against F. verticillioides and F pseudograminearum in maize. In the study, plant essential oils were applied in doses of 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 μl ml-1. PDA medium free of plant essential oils was used as negative control and PDA medium containing commercial fungicide (80 g 1' Triticonazole, 40 g l-1 Pyra-clostrobin-BASF company) was used as positive control. The experiment was carried out in a randomized plot design with three replications in vitro. In the positive control application of laurel essential oil, 76.8% and 87.3% inhibition were detected against F. verticillioides and R pseudograminearum, while 58.9% and 66.1% inhibition were detected in 2 μl ml-1 application. The effects of thyme essential oil were 85.6% and 84.7%, respectively 2 μl mL-1 and positive control, against F. pseudograminearum, and 84.3% and 85.2%, respectively, against F verticillioides. In the positive control application of eucalyptus essential oil, 84.2% and 83.2% inhibition were determined against F pseudograminearum and F verticillioides, respectively, while 2 jxl mL' application was 66% against F verticillioides and F pseudograminearum, respectively. 4% and 45.8% inhibition were determined. The positive control application of fennel essential oil showed an effect of 81.0% against E pseudograminearum and 77.5% against F. verticillioides. In the positive control application of chamomile essential oil, an effect of 79.7% and 74.8% was detected against F verticillioides and F pseudograminearum, respectively.