Antifungal activity of Cymbopogon parkeri stapf. essential oil on some important phytopathogenic fungi.

The genus Cymbopogon that belongs to the Poaceae (Graminae) has some important aromatic species whit remarkable commercial value. Essential oils from different species of the Cymbopogon are used in the perfumery, cosmetic and soap industries and some of them have antifungal and insecticide activity. In this study, antifungal activity of C. parkeri essential oil on the growth of Rhizoctonia solani, Pyricularia orizea and Fusarium oxysporum, three important phytopathogenic fungi, was investigated. The essential oil was extracted from the air-dried parts in flowering stage by hydrodistillation in a Clevenger type apparatus, and Growth inhibition of Rhizoctonia solani, Pyricularia orizea, Fusarium oxysporum for 15, 30, 75,150, 300 and 600 microl L(-1) dosage of the essential oil in PDA was examined in vitro by media mixed method and was compared with control. Antifungal activity was determined in terms of growth inhibitory concentration for 50% growth inhibitory (EC50 microI L(-1)) and inhibition percentage of some dosages was obtained. The results showed that concentration of 600 microl L(-1) of the essential oil completely inhibits the growth of all tested fungi. EC50 for Rhizoctonia solani, Pyricularia orizea, Fusarium oxysporum were counted 39.82, 72.00 and 43.63 microl L(-1) respectively. The results indicated that the essential oil has strong fungi state activity.