In vitro antifungal and sporulation-inhibitory activity of selected essential oils against Aspergillus niger and GC-MS characterization of selected highly active oils

Abstract:

Aspergillus niger is a filamentous ascomycete fungus and a common plant and food contaminant. Plant-pathogenic A. niger affects agricultural crops both in the field and after harvest. In the present study, A. niger was isolated from infected groundnut root, purified by sub-culturing, and identified using morphological and molecular techniques. The in vitro antifungal properties of 14 essential oils (EOs) were evaluated against A. niger, and the chemical compositions of selected highly active EOs were investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Cinnamomum cassia, Laurus nobilis, and Cymbopogon citratus EOs exhibited higher antifungal activity than the other tested oils. The potential of these EOs as eco-friendly and economical biocontrol agents in agriculture is discussed.