Inhibitory effect of essential oil from Nepeta rtanjensis on fungal spore germination

Abstract

The ability of Nepeta rtanjensis essential oil to inhibit conidia germination of fungi was evaluated in vitro. Tested fungi included in research were Cladosporium cladosporioides, Trichoderma viride and two Alternaria species originally isolated from N. rtanjensis. The conidia of Cladosporium cladosporioides were most susceptible to the N. rtanjensis essential oil treatment, and the oil concentration of 0.1 μg ml-1 caused the maximum of conidia germination inhibition. The highest concentration used in experiment that caused the maximum of conidia germination inhibition was 0.6 μg ml-1 for Alternaria isolated from leaf surface of N. rtanjensis. The germ tube elongation of Alternaria isolates significantly decreased in response of different concentrations of oil used in experiment.