EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF Melaleuca alternifolia OIL ON MYCELIAL GROWTH OF PHYTOPATHOGENIC FUNGI IN VITRO

The exploration of the biological activity of secondary compounds present in crude extracts or essential oils of plants can in an effective way to control diseases in crops. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia on the inhibition of mycelial growth in vitro of pathogenic fungi. The pathogenic fungi were tested: Macrophomina phaseolina, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Alternaria alternata. The concentrations of oil added to the culture medium were 0,0, 0,2, 0,4, 0,6 and 0,8%. The evaluation consisted of measurements of the diameter of the colonies. The essential oil of melaleuca inhibited the development of pathogenic fungi tested could represent an economical and environmentally viable alternative to control plant diseases.