Antifungal Activities of some Essential oil against selected Post-harvest Pathogens 

Abstract

Plant pathogens are causing serious destruction of post harvest vegetables during storage and transport Though, easy availability, immediate effects and cost-effectiveness are the reasons for which the synthetic pesticides and preservative chemicals are being frequently used world wide but reports of food poisoning and environmental degradation are also being associated with such acts. Therefore, scientists are searching for some alternatives that should be cheap, effective and environment friendly. In the present investigation, antimicrobial activity of 12 aromatic plant's essential oils was examined against two post harvest plant pathogens namely Geotrichum sp. and Mucor sp. by following agar cup diffusion method. The investigation reveals that Elettaria cardamomum, Murraya koenigii, Curcuma zedoaria and Pandanus amaryllifolius were most effective essential oil and their killing time revealed that they can kill the pathogens effectively within 24 hours. Therefore, these essential oils can be used to preserve vegetables after harvesting effectively.