Effect of essential oils of some higher plants on Aspergillus flavus Link. infesting stored seeds of guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L. (Taub.))

The essential oils from leaves and seeds of some angiosperms collected from different localities of Varanasi as well as from local markets were tested against the mycelial growth of Aspergillus flavus. Amongst them the volatile oil from seeds of Daucus carota L. exhibited absolute toxicity against the test fungus. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the oil at which it exhibited fungistasis was 2000 ppm when it was not phytotoxic on seed germination and seedling growth of guar, Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L. (Taub.). It exhibited a broad fungitoxic spectrum inhibiting the mycelial growth of a number of fungi at 1500, 2000 and 2500 ppm. Moreover, the oil was more effective than some synthetic fungicides including Agrosan G.N., copper oxychloride, Derosal, Dithane M-45 and Thiovit.