Seed treatment with essential oils to control Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc

Abstract

The sclerotia wilt in cowpea caused by the fungus Sclerotium rolfsii has in chemical control an inefficient option. Essential oils have antifungal properties, constituting an alternative to agrochemicals. Here, we evaluated the efficiency of essential oils in the control of S. rolfsii, from seed treatment, as well as their effect on seed germination. Based on the diameter of the colonies of the fungus S. rolfssi submitted to a concentration of 8.0 ml/kg of seed-1, the oils of L. sidoides, L. origanoides and C. zehntneri reduced mycelial growth by 61.5, 67.2 and 40% respectively. The reduction in the percentage of germination occurred at the highest concentrations. The fungus was sensitive to all evaluated oils, being more sensitive to Lippia oils. Seed treatment with essential oils is effective at a concentration of 4.0 ml/kg-1.