Preservation of Buchnania Lanzan Spreng. Seeds By Ocimum Canum Sims. Essential Oil

Eight fungal species namely Aspergillus flavus A. nidulans, A. niger, A. ochraceus, Mucor sp., Penicillium italicum, P. oxalicum and Rhizopus arrhizus were identified by agar plate as well as blotter paper methods from fresh kernels of Buchnania lanzan. in vitro activity of 12 essential oils and 2 commercial fungicides was assessed for their antifungal activity against all isolated fungi. Oil of Ocimum canum exhibited absolute toxicity (100%) against 8 fungi at 500ppm concentration. in vivo studies depict that oil of O. canum as seed dressing agent and as a fumigant was able to preserve kernels up to 45 and 90 days, respectively with minimal changes in organoleptic behaviour of fruits during storage. Thus, Ocimum oil can possibly be exploited in the management of seed-borne pathogenic fungi and prevention of biodeterioration of Buchnania kernels in an eco-friendly way.