Evaluation of essential oil of Cymbopogon distans and Cinnamomum tamala against plant pathogenic fungi

Resistance to conventional fungicides causes the poor disease control of agriculture plant essential oils have a great potential as novel fungicide sources for controlling pathogenic fungi. In this study antifungal activity of the essential oil of Cymbopogon distans and Cinnamomum tamala were evaluated in vitro against ten plants pathogenic fungal activity was evaluated with three replicates. The result showed C. distans and C. tamala essential oil with maximum zone of inhibition against Fusarium sp. (12.53 ± 0.97 mm) and P. aurantiogriseum (12.06 ± 0.52 mm) while minimum activity was seen against R. solani (6.83 ± 0.41, 6.16 ± 0.16 mm) zone of inhibition respectively. The highest efficacy was observed for C.distans essential oil where the MIC values 0.625 mg/ml against A. flavus and Pythium sp. So, plant essential oils have the potential to replace the synthetic fungicides in the management of postharvest diseases of fruits and vegetables.