Evaluation of the Inhibitory Effect of Heracleum platytaenium Boiss Essential Oil Against Alternaria alternata

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the antifungal effect of the essential oil of Heracleum platytaenium, an endemic plant of Turkey, against the phytopathogenic fungus Alternaria alternata. Fungus is a widespread fungal pathogen that causes significant economic losses in agricultural production. Due to the adverse environmental and health effects of chemical fungicides, the search for natural antifungal agents has gained increasing importance.

The antifungal activity of H. platytaenium essential oil obtained in different years was tested under in vitro conditions. The essential oils were applied at different concentrations (5, 10, and 20 µL) and examined for their effects on A. alternata mycelial growth on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) medium. The findings revealed that the essential oil inhibited fungal growth in a dose-dependent manner. The highest inhibition rate was observed at a 20 µL concentration, with the 2021 essential oil achieving up to 86.6% inhibition. These results suggest that the antifungal activity of the essential oil may vary depending on the extraction year.

In conclusion, the essential oil of H. platytaenium appears to be a promising natural antifungal agent against A. alternata. However, further studies are needed to explore its chemical composition, mode of action, and efficacy against different pathogens. Future research should focus on its potential use as a biofungicide in agricultural production.