Diversity of growth responses of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans isolates to essential oils

Abstract Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans causes yellow wilt, a serious cabbage disease. This fungal species is composed of many strains within two pathotypes. In this study, the inhibitory effect of six essential oils from aromatic and edicinal plants (oregano, thyme, clove, cinnamon, lemongrass, litsea) at several concentrations on eight isolates of different origin. was investigated. Our results showed that oregano essential oil had the greatest inhibitory effect. The tested essential oils can be divided into three groups according to the similar content of their main components (oregano and thyme, clove and cinnamon, lemongrass and litsea), which correlates to some extent with their inhibitory effects. The tested isolates were also differed in their response to the studied essential oils. The differences inside the race were more important than between races and that fungal isolates sensitivity against EOs seems to be more related to the geographical origin of the isolates, rather than to their race affiliation.