IN VITRO EVALUATION OF ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF SELECTED MALAYSIAN PLANTS AGAINST THE WILT PATHOGEN OF BANANA, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense TROPICAL RACE 4

Fusarium wilt of banana is one the most serious diseases affecting plantations worldwide. In this study, inhibitory activities four essential oils (clove, cinnamon, lesser alpinia and eucalyptus) five hydrosols (kaffir lime, eucalyptus, bitter ginger, fig tea tree) on in vitro growth causal agent disease, oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4 (TR4), were investigated. Results showed that some these plant extracts inhibited mycelial TR4 a dose-dependent manner. Clove oil tree hydrosol effective suppressing with percentage inhibition radial (PIRG) recorded at 46% 69%, respectively, while kaffir lime moderate PIRG 33% 64%, respectively. These results suggest compounds have potential to be used future greenhouse studies as single treatment or combination previously established biological control agents against banana.