Abstract
The aim of the studies was to investigate the effect of camel grass, lavender, patchouli, peppermint and tea tree essential oils, and their mixtures on the in vitro growth of pathogenic fungi Cladobotryum dendroides and Mycogone perniciosa, occurring in the cultivation of button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus). The mycelial growth of the tested pathogens was evaluated on PDA medium. Essential oils were added in three doses: 0.25; 0.5 and 1 mg·cm–3 of PDA medium. Camel grass and peppermint essential oils applied at the highest dose inhibited completely the in vitro growth of C. dendroides mycelium. Lavender oil used at the amount of 1 mg·cm–3 reduced the growth of the pathogen by 90 %. In the case of M. perniciosa the complete inhibition of the pathogen’s growth was observed after the addition of camel grass oil to PDA medium, irrespective of a dose, and lavender oil at the doses of 0.5 and 1 mg·cm–3. The efficacy of the tested mixtures against M. perniciosa was high. Generally, all mixtures of essential oils, irrespective of a dose, completely controlled the growth of the pathogen. The complete inhibition of the growth of C. dendroides was observed only on the medium with the addition of the mixture of camel grass and peppermint oils at the highest dose. The conducted research showed that natural essential oils due to their antifungal properties could be useful in the Integrated Disease Management for the protection of button mushroom against diseases. They could be an effective alternative to synthetic chemical fungicides.