Inhibition of storage fungi of blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) by some essential oils

Essential oils extracted from different parts of some angiosperms collected either in the locality of Gorakhpur or from the local market were assayed for their fungitoxicity against the mycelial growth of Aspergillus niger and Curvularia ovoidea, two storage fungi found in blackgram, Vigna mungo L. The volatile oils from wood chips of Cedrus deodara (Roxb. ex Lamb) G. Don and that from seeds of Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague exhibited absolute toxicity, inhibiting the mycelial growth of both the test fungi completely. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the potent oils of C. deodara and T. ammi were found to be 1000 ppm and 500 ppm, respectively, at which level they were fungicidal. Both the oils showed a broad fungitoxic spectrum inhibiting the mycelial growth of 10 and 12 out of 15 fungi (all isolated from blackgram seeds) at their respective MICs. Moreover, the fungitoxicity of the oils was not destroyed by autoclaving (15 lb/in² for 20 min in closed vials) and storage (up to 90 days). Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.