ANTIFUNGAL POTENTIAL OF PEPPERMINT, BASIL AND SAGE ESSENTIAL OILS.

Synthetic fungicides are the most effective protection against plant pathogens, but, their uncontrolled and long-term use can lead to many harmful effects: environmental degradation, human health problems and pathogen resistance. The biological compounds contained in essential oils have no harmful effects on humans or the environment and can therefore be an alternative to synthetic fungicides. Essential oils are products of plant metabolism and often show antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial and insecticidal effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial potential of essential oils from peppermint, basil and sage essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation, on Fusarium sp. and Aspergillus sp. The experiment was carried out on potato dextrose agar. After inoculation of the agar with fungal mycelia, paper discs impregnated with 10 µl of oils were placed on the agar surface. In the control, the impregnation was carried out with distilled water. The inhibition zones were measured after 3, 6 and 9 days. The results showed that peppermint oil had the highest antimicrobial potential compared with other oils. Sage essential oil showed the lowest antifungal suppression. A negligible zone of inhibition was observed in the control. A statistically significant influence betwwen the oils and the incubation period was found in this study. Our results confirm the potential use of peppermint essential oil for the suppression of Fusarium sp. and Aspergillus sp. growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]