Antifungal activity of Satureja hortensis L. essential oil against Alternaria citri

Satureja hortensis is belonging to Lamiaceae family. Satureja essential oil could be obtained from steam distillation of leaves and leafy branches, is used in medicine and food industry. This study was aimed to evaluate interactions of drug and antifungal activity of savory essential oil on Alternaria citri. Leaves and flowers of S. hortensis were subjected to hydro-distillation. The analyses of the volatile compounds were carried out on gas chromatograph. Then, Alternaria citri strains were isolated and cultured in PDA medium culture. The PDA mediums were prepared with different concentration of savory essential oil (0, 100, 200, 300, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 ppm) after purification of fungi and followed up by cutting of Alternaria citri raised as well attached on PDA medium with a cork borer into small pieces and then were incubated at 25°C temperature in a incubator. The fungal growth in mediums added with different concentration of Satureja hortensis essential oil were evaluated after 24, 48, 72 hours to 20 days. The obtained data were analyzed by using SPSS software and the means were compared with Duncan’s test. The obtained results indicated that savory essential oil from 400ppm to higher concentrations demonstrate inhibitory effects on fungal growth and spores production. In addition, lower concentrations from 400pm reduced speed of fungi growth, but not ceased