In vitro bioefficacy of essential oils against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides causing fungal fruit rot in pomegranate

Abstract

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L) is one of the important fruit crops grown in India. Fruit rot of pomegranate caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) Penz. and Sacc., has becoming a major limiting factor in cultivation of pomegranate in some regions of India. The present investigation was carried out to test the in vitro bioefficacy of different essential oils against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides causing fungal fruit rot in pomegranate were carried out in the Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Latur during the year 2017-18. Among the different essential oils However, Cinnamon oil was found most effective with least mycelial growth (43.80 mm) and numerically highest mycelial inhibition (50.58%), followed by Nutmeg oil (62.87 mm and 29.76%), Safflower oil (64.66 mm and 27.76%), Mustard oil (65.50 mm and 26.81%), Neem oil (68.55 mm and 23.22%), Castor oil (69.36 mm and 22.28%), Coconut oil (71.48 mm and 20.04%) and Groundnut oil (71.51 mm and 20.02%). The essential oils were evaluated in vitro against the pathogen Colletotrichum gloeosporioides causing fungal fruit rot in pomegranate by using paper disc method.