Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils Against the Fungal Pathogens Ascosphaera apis and Pseudogymnoascus destructans

Department

Molecular and Cellular Biology

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Fall 10-10-2018

Embargo Period

6-25-2022

Abstract

Fungal pathogens are a growing worldwide concern. Declines in a number of economically and agriculturally important plant and animal species pose a significant threat to both biodiversity and food security. Although many effective antifungal agents have been identified, their toxicity often precludes their use with food products or sensitive animal species. This has prompted the exploration of natural products as effective treatment compounds. In the present study, several essential oils were tested for their capacity to limit the growth of the fungal pathogens Ascosphaera apis and Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the causative agents of chalkbrood disease among honey bee larvae and white-nose syndrome among bats, respectively. Essential oils of cinnamon bark, citronella, lemongrass, and orange were exposed to A. apis in contact-dependent oil-agar suspensions as well as in contact-independent shared airspaces. Essential oils of cinnamon bark, citronella, and lemongrass were exposed to P. destructans in contact-dependent oil-agar suspensions. All compounds were found to significantly inhibit mycelial growth at low concentrations, suggesting the potential for these natural products to be used for controlling these and other select fungal pathogens.

Journal Title

Mycopathologia

Journal ISSN

1573-0832

Volume

183

First Page

921

Last Page

934

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1007/s11046-018-0298-x

Share

COinS