Vol. 12, Issue 9 (2023)

Author(s):
Ajoy Guragai, Babli Dutta, Anamika Debnath, Shrilekha Das, Yarin Toko, Sanasam Angousana, Seeram Phanindra, Samima Sultana and Sandip Hembram

Abstract:
In the present study, essential oil from two species of Ocimum was used to inhibit the growth of the phytopathogenic fungi viz. Bipolaris sorokinianaand Colletotrichum henanense. The Poisoned food technique was used to check the antipathogenic activity of essential oil. The oil was used both as pure (100, 125, 150, 175, 200 and 225 ppm concentration) and diluted with organic solvent (10, 12.5, 15, 17.5, 20 and 22.5 ppm concentration). Ocimum gratissimum showed lesser growth of the fungal pathogens and more inhibitory effect over Ocimum sanctum. Bipolaris sorokiniana recorded lesser fungal growth as compared to Colletotrichum henanense. It had been also found that increasing the concentration of oil (both in pure and diluted), increased the fungal growth inhibition. Maximum fungal growth inhibition (94.78% and 79.99%) was recorded in Bipolaris sorokiniana treated with the oil of Ocimum gratissimum @ 225 ppm and 22.5 ppm as pure and in diluted form respectively. Diluted form of essential oil showed less growth inhibition of fungi than the concentrated oil, but it was much cost-effective because using only 1/10^th volume of the essential oil, an inhibition of 79.99% was observed at 22.5 ppm, while pure oil resulted in 94.78% inhibition at 225 ppm. Dilution of the oil was also significant for covering a large mass of infected plant populations. Hence, it can be concluded that the essential oil of Ocimum species can be effectively used as a fungistatic agent in controlling the plant fungal diseases. Hence, the essential oil of Ocimum species may be effectively utilized in controlling the phytopathogenic fungi.