Abstract:

To investigate the antifungal activity of essential oils (EOs) derived from A. tatarinowii and A. argyi, as well as their principal components, we assessed the antifungal efficacy of both EOs against four pathogenic fungi using the Oxford Cup method. Additionally, EO constituents were analyzed through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Subsequently, the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) were determined through a 96-well plate assay. The results showed that both EOs at a concentration of 50 mg/mL exhibited significant inhibitory effects on Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, followed by Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium solani. GC-MS analysis revealed that A. tatarinowii EO contained 34 compounds, with β-asarone and α-asarone identified as the primary constituents. In contrast, A. argyi EO comprised 98 compounds, among which caryophyllene, β-caryophyllene, eucalyptol, and myrtenal constituted a substantial proportion. Furthermore, the MIC of β-asarone and α-asarone were found to be comparable to that of hymexazol. When utilized in combination with hymexazol, the two EOs demonstrated an additive impact on Fusarium oxysporum in the pairwise combination experiment. Overall, the EOs and their main components from A. tatarinowii and A. argyi exhibited robust antifungal activity against four fungal pathogens, indicating potential for further research.

Key words: Acorus tatarinowii, Artemisia argy, essential oil, the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), biological pesticides, synergies, antifungal activity, ecological planting, fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI)