Impact of Various Essential Oils on the Development of Pathogens of the <i>Fusarium</i> Genus and on Health and Germination Parameters of Winter Wheat and Maize
Jakub Danielewicz,
Monika Grzanka,
Łukasz Sobiech,
Ewa Jajor,
Joanna Horoszkiewicz,
Marek Korbas,
Andrzej Blecharczyk,
Kinga Stuper-Szablewska,
Kinga Matysiak
Affiliations
Jakub Danielewicz
Department of Mycology, Institute of Plant Protection, National Research Institute, Władysława Wegorka 20, 60-318 Poznan, Poland
Monika Grzanka
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agronomy, Horticulture and Biotechnology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 28, 60-637 Poznan, Poland
Łukasz Sobiech
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agronomy, Horticulture and Biotechnology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 28, 60-637 Poznan, Poland
Ewa Jajor
Department of Mycology, Institute of Plant Protection, National Research Institute, Władysława Wegorka 20, 60-318 Poznan, Poland
Joanna Horoszkiewicz
Department of Mycology, Institute of Plant Protection, National Research Institute, Władysława Wegorka 20, 60-318 Poznan, Poland
Marek Korbas
Department of Mycology, Institute of Plant Protection, National Research Institute, Władysława Wegorka 20, 60-318 Poznan, Poland
Andrzej Blecharczyk
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agronomy, Horticulture and Biotechnology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 28, 60-637 Poznan, Poland
Kinga Stuper-Szablewska
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 28, 60-637 Poznań, Poland
Kinga Matysiak
Department of Herbology and Plant Protection Technology, Institute of Plant Protection, National Research Institute, Władysława Wegorka 20, 60-318 Poznan, Poland
Currently, researchers are looking for ways to replace synthetic pesticides with substances of natural origin. Essential oils are produced by plants, among other things, to protect against pathogens, which is why there is interest in their use as fungicides. This experiment assessed the composition of essential oils from a commercial source, their impact on the development of mycelium of pathogens of the Fusarium genus, and the possibility of using them as a pre-sowing treatment. Grains of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and corn (Zea mays L.) were inoculated with a suspension of mycelium and spores of fungi of the Fusarium genus and then soaked in solutions containing oils of sage (Salvia officinalis L.), cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.), cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.), and thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.). The obtained results indicate that thyme essential oil had the strongest effect on limiting the development of Fusarium pathogens and seedling infection, but at the same time it had an adverse effect on the level of germination and seedling development of the tested plants. The remaining essential oils influenced the mentioned parameters to varying degrees. Selected essential oils can be an alternative to synthetic fungicides, but they must be selected appropriately.
