First Report of Fusarium sulawense Causing Cactus Rot and Its Biocontrol by Essential Oils

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Plant protection, Ra.C., Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran

2 Department of Plant protection, Ra. C., Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran

3 Member of the Agricultural Engineering System of Guilan Province

4 Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Ar.C., Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran

Abstract

Indoor ornamental plants, despite their role in improving air quality and aesthetics, are highly vulnerable to fungal pathogens that can reduce plant quality and indirectly affect human health. In this study, the causal agent of cactus rot in greenhouses of Gilan province, Iran, was investigated. The pathogen was isolated from symptomatic plants and identified as Fusarium sulawense based on morphological and molecular analyses. Given the disadvantages of chemical fungicides, including environmental hazards and the emergence of resistant fungal strains, the antifungal efficacy of 12 plant essential oils was evaluated under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Essential oils were tested by disc diffusion (four concentrations) and incorporation into culture medium (five concentrations), and their effects were compared with fungicides including Mancozeb, Thiophanate-methyl, Bordeaux mixture, Copper oxychloride, and Rovral-TS at 2000 ppm. Laboratory assays revealed that Ziziphora clinopodioides, thyme, and Trachyspermum ammi (Ajwain) essential oils exhibited the strongest inhibition of mycelial growth. Complete inhibition was observed with Ziziphora, thyme, and ajwain oils, as well as Thiophanate-methyl, Copper oxychloride, and Rovral-TS. In the spore germination assay, Bordeaux mixture and thyme essential oil showed the highest inhibition (100% and 70.67%, respectively). Ajwain, Thyme, Thiophanate-methyl, and Rovral-TS demonstrated fungicidal effects, whereas Ziziphora and Copper oxychloride were fungistatic. Greenhouse trials confirmed that Thyme, Ziziphora, and ajwain essential oils provided the highest disease control, reducing cactus rot by 85.4%, 83.7%, and 81.9%, respectively, while Heracleum persicum (Persian Hogweed) and Ferula gummosa (Galbanum) showed negligible activity. Overall, essential oils demonstrated promising antifungal activity, though their efficacy in greenhouse conditions was approximately 30–50% lower than under laboratory conditions.

Keywords

References

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