THE FUNGITOXIC EFFECT OF THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF THE HERB NARDOSTACHYS-JATAMANSI DC

Nineteen essential oils were screened for their toxicity against Asper gillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, and Fusarium oxysporum. The oil of N ardostachys jatamansi DC completely inhibited mycelial growth of all t he test fungi at a concentration of 1.0 x 10(3) mu L/L. The toxicity w as fungistatic. The fungitoxic effect of the oil remained unaffected b y heavy inoculum, temperature treatment, and storage. In addition to t he test fungus, the oil at concentrations of 1.0 x 10(3) mu L/L and 1. 2 x 10(3) mu L/L inhibited the growth of six and nine other fungi, res pectively, and did not adversely affect seed germination and seedling growth of Cicer arietinum and Cajanus cajan.