FUNGITOXIC POTENCIAL OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF SYZYGIUM AROMATICUM (L.) MERR & PERRY (CLOVE)

Abstract

The plants produce a variety of organic compounds. An important group of these compounds are called secondary metabolites. These ones are related to the interaction of the plant with the environment, as for example, the defense of the plant against insects, bacteria and fungi. The essential oils consist of a kind of secondary metabolite of great economical importance, since many of them can be used as medicine, insecticide , fungicide, among other usefulness. The aim of the present work was to verify the fungitoxic potential of the essential oil of Syzygium aromaticum concerning phitopathogenic fungi. The essential oil was extracted from the dried floral buds through the water vapor drag, making use of the modified Clevenger appliance. The fungicidal effect of the oil was evaluated under Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizoctonia solani.The tests were done “in vitro” observing the growing of these phitopathogenies in the presence of different oil concentrations (100/200/500/1000/2000mg/Kg) using the culture environment PDA ( Potato-Dextrose-Ágar) . The fungi were incubated in germination chambers with the control of temperature and light, through 3 repetitions. It could be observed that the essential oil of the Syzygium aromaticum reduced the mycelial growing of the Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizoctonia solani. The inhibition of the mycelial growing has occurred during all the concentrations mentioned above and from 500mg/Kg the complete inhibition of the fungi has occurred.