ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF VEGETABLE OILS AND EXTRACTS AGAINST Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Considering the importance of white mold, caused by the pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, to soybeans (Glycine max) and the lack of studies about alternative control ways of plant pathogens, this study evaluated the effect of vegetable oils and extracts on the mycelial growth of S. sclerotiorum. Concentrations of 25, 50, 75 and 100 mu g a.i. mL(-1) of azadiractine, obtained from neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss), were evaluated associated with the doses of 0, 1/3, 1/6, 1/8 or 1/10 of Karanja (Pongamia glabra) oil in the experiment with essential oils. Vegetable extracts of the species Schinus molle L., Ageratum conyzoides L., Ocimum gratissimum L., Artemisia absinthium L., Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels, Ruta graveolens L., Manihot esculenta Crantz, Melia azedarach L. and Piper aduncum L. were evaluated in the concentration of 30%. Oils and vegetable extracts were incorporated, separately, into PDA culture medium and poured in 9-cm diameter petri plates, over which a PDA disk containing mycelium of the fungus was placed. The plates were incubated at 22 +/- 3 degrees C and 12 hours lighting. The evaluations consisted of daily measurements of colony diameter for two days. The greatest mycelial growth inhibition was directly proportional to the concentration increase of neem and Karanja oils. Azadiractin concentration corresponding to 100 mu g a.i. mL(-1) with 1/3 Karanja oil was the most effective on reducing mycelial growth, with 63% inhibition. Among the vegetable extracts, fruits of long pepper were the most promising for reducing mycelial growth, with 43% inhibition.