Effects of savory essential oil on germination parameters of Fusarium infected-seeds of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Abstract

High use of synthetic pesticides has detrimental effects on the environment. An alternative option is application of natural pesticide compounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of replacing Vitavax with savory essential oil to inhibit physiological damages to wheat (<em>Triticum aestivum</em> L.) seeds caused by <em>Fusarium oxysprum.</em> A pot experiment was carried out on wheat seeds as factorial on the basis of completely randomized design with three replications. Factors were fungal infection (<em>Fusarium oxysprum</em> infection and non-infection), and fungicide (control, savory essential oil at 10 and 20 ppm and Vitavax 2 g per kg). Fusarium infection decreased seed physiological quality. Using savory essential oil could not inhibit fungal infection in seeds and seedling but Vitavax could. In addition, the savory essential oil decreased somewhat germination percentage and its inhibitory effect on germination increased with concentration. Although there are some reports about anti-fungal effects of savory essential oil under <em>in vitro</em> conditions, such effect was not observed under this pot experiment. This may be due to application of low concentration in this experiment; however high concentration will kill the seeds.