RESEARCH ON ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF ESSENTIAL OILS FROM TEA TREE (MELALEUCA ALTERNLFOLLA), SAGE (SALYLA OFFLCLNALLS) AND EUCALYPTUS (EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS) AGAINST ALTERNARLA SSP. ISOLATED FROM STEVIA (STEYLA REBAUDLANA)
The antifungal activity of three essential oils (tea tree, sage and eucalyptus) against Alternaria ssp., isolated from Stevia rebaudiana were tested at different concentrations (0,2%, 0,15%, 0,1%, 0,05%, 0.025%) in vitro. The essential oils investigated reduced the mycelia growth of Alternaria ssp. The tea tree oil was most effective in inhibiting the mycelia growth of Alternaria ssp. (33% 62%), followed by sage oil (29%-46%). The eucalyptus oil exhibited moderate activity and mycelia growth inhibition of fungus varied from 19% to 36%. Antifungal activity of the essential oils increased with rising concentration.