Evaluation of Fungistatic Activity of Eight Selected Essential Oils on Four Heterogeneous Fusarium Isolates Obtained from Cereal Grains in Southern Poland

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the chemical composition of eight commercial essential oils (EsO) (garlic, grapefruit, lemon grass, tea tree, thyme, verbena, cajeput, and Litsea cubeba) and their fungistatic activity in relation to four species of Fusarium: F. avenaceum, F. culmorum, F. graminearum, and F. oxysporum. The species identification of Fusarium isolates was confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometer. The determination of qualitative and quantitative chemical composition of the EsO was carried out using the gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method. The fungistatic activity of EsO was assessed by using the method of poisoned substrates. The data were compiled in the STATISTICA 13.0 program. The chemical composition of the tested oils varied; the dominant fraction, except for grapefruit and garlic oils, were monoterpenoids. The greatest similarity to the action of the synthetic pesticide Funaben T was found in four oils, i.e., thyme, lemongrass, verbena, and Litsea cubeba. The studies showed that F. oxysporum and F. avenaceum were characterized by a higher resistance to low oil concentrations, and F. culmorum and F. graminearum by sensitivity. The fungicidal activity of two EsO-dominant monoterpenoids-thymol and citral—has been confirmed.