The Potential of Thyme, Clove, Cinnamon and Ajowan Essential Oils in Inhibiting the Growth of<i>Botrytis cinerea</i>and<i>Monilinia fructicola</i>

Abstract

Abstract In the present study, the antifungal activity of essential oils of Thymus vulgaris, Eugenia caryophyllata, Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Carum copticum against two well-known postharvest fungi, Monilinia fructicola and Botrytis cinerea, by poison food medium method was assayed. The inhibition of spore germination by essential oils was also determined. The results showed that all of essential oils inhibited completely of B. cinerea growth at concentrations ≥ 400 μl/l. Also all of essential oils except E. caryophyllata at concentrations ≥ 400 μl/l completely suppressed fungal growth of M. fructicola. In addition, results showed that C. copticum oil possessed the highest antifungal activity on both fungi. GC-MS analysis showed that main compounds identified in T. vulgaris, E. caryophyllata, C. zeylanicum and C. copticum oils were thymol (37.5 %), eugenol (48.8 %), cinnamaldehyde (90.3 %) and thymol (50.9 %), respectively.