Study of the antifungal activity of three plant's extracts against plant pathogenic fungi

Abstract

This research investigates the physicochemical properties and antifungal efficacy of essential oils and hydrosols obtained from Lavandula stoechas, Pistacia lentiscus, and Ruta graveolens, three aromatic plant species naturally occurring in the Guelma region of Algeria. The extracts were tested against four phytopathogenic fungi: Aspergillus niger, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium graminearum, and Zymoseptoria tritici. Essential oils were extracted through hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus. Among the studied species, L. stoechas produced the highest essential oil yield, followed by R. graveolens. Antifungal activity was evaluated using the disc diffusion method for essential oils and the well diffusion technique for hydrosols. The results revealed notable antifungal activity for both types of extracts, with L. stoechas and R. graveolens showing particularly strong inhibition against the target pathogens. These findings support the potential of these natural products as sustainable alternatives for the biological control of fungal diseases in agriculture, contributing to reduced reliance on synthetic fungicides and improved environmental health.