This study aimed to evaluate the fungitoxic effect of the essential oil of citronella grass and its major constituent citronellal on the inhibition of mycelial pathogen Fusarium subglutinans, the causal agent of Fusarium culture of pineapple (Ananas comosus). To evaluate the effect of essential oil in the mycelial growth of the fungus were used six rates (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 mL) of oil that were distributed on the surface of PDA medium (potato dextrose agar) before subculturing of the fungus. Mycelial growth was measured after 48 h of the experiment and five times of assessment (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 days after subculturing). The results indicated that the essential oil of citronella grass showed higher inhibitory effect of mycelial growth of the fungus F. subglutinans than compound citronellal. In all rates used of the essential oil gave lower growth rate than the mycelial citronellal.
Cymbopogon nardus; medicinal plant; bioactivity
