Antifungal activity assessment of essential oil of bitter apricot (Prunus armeniaca) kernels

Authors

  • MONICA SHARMA*, P.C. SHARMA, KIRTI KAUNDAL and HIMANSHU SHARMA

Keywords:

Biopesticide, essential oil, Fusarium wilt, soil-borne fungi

Abstract

Essential oils of botanicals constitute a promising alternative for hazardous fungicides in integrated disease management modules. The study describes the in vitro antifungal activity of essential oil obtained from hydro-distillation of apricot kernel press cake. Four different concentrations of essential oil (5%, 10%, 15% and 20%) were screened for their antifungal effect against different phytopathogenic fungi viz. Fusarium oxysporum, Sclerotium rolfsii and Macrophomina sp. There was complete inhibition in mycelial growth of all three fungi at 15% and 20% concentrations while at 10% concentration, no growth was observed in F. oxysporum and least growth rate was recorded in S. rolfsii (1.0mm/day) followed by Macrophomina sp. (1.3mm/day). In control, the mycelia growth rate was 9.7mm/day, 9.0mm/day and 9.8mm/day for F. oxysporum, S. rolfsii and Macrophomina sp., respectively. Mycelial inhibition of 30.9%, 61.37% and 52.44% was observed for F. oxysporum, S. rolfsii and Macrophomina sp., respectively at 5% oil concentration in the medium while at 10 % oil concentration, level of inhibition was increased to 100.0%, 88.9% and 86.76% for F. oxysporum, S. rolfsii and Macrophomina sp., respectively. Seed treatment with bitter apricot oil at 5% and 10 % concentration effectively managed the Fusarium wilt disease of pea under field conditions and significantly improved the yield. These findings suggest that essential oil of bitter apricot kernel press cake has antifungal activity and may be used in formation of biopesticide for managing diseases in many crops.

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Issue

Vol. 69 No. 3 (2016): Indian Phytopathology

Section

Research Articles

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How to Cite

KIRTI KAUNDAL and HIMANSHU SHARMA, M. S. P. S. (2016). Antifungal activity assessment of essential oil of bitter apricot (Prunus armeniaca) kernels. Indian Phytopathology, 69(3), 290. http://epubs.icar.org.in/ejournal/index.php/IPPJ/article/view/60162