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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Food and Feed Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #273922
Title: Antifungal activities of Hedychium essential oils and plant extracts against mycotoxigenic fungi

Author
item Rajasekaran, Kanniah - Rajah
item Sakhanokho, Hamidou
item TABANCA, NURHAYAT - University Of Mississippi

Submitted to: Journal of Crop Improvement
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/9/2011
Publication Date: 5/30/2012
Citation: Rajasekaran, K., Sakhanokho, H.F., Tabanca, N. 2012. Antifungal activities of Hedychium essential oils and plant extracts against mycotoxigenic fungi. Journal of Crop Improvement. 26:389-396.

Interpretive Summary: Natural products from diverse plant species are effective against several insect and microbial pests. Essential oil extracted from rhizomes and plant extracts of ornamental ginger lily were evaluated for their antifungal activity against two fungi, Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioides that produce two major classes of mycotoxins, aflatoxin and fumonisin respectively, on several crops. Essential oil or leaf extracts from several Hedychium species and varieties totally inhibited the growth of pre-germinated spores of A. flavus and F. verticillioides. Control of these two fungi by aqueous extracts of rhizome was not significant although reduced number of colonies were observed. Availability of natural products for the control of mycotoxin producing fungi will be useful for development of safer means of toxin control. In addition, the value of the ornamental crop will be enhanced. This information will be useful to plant breeders, toxicologists, and horticulturists for development of novel ornamental nursery crop as well as its use in mycotoxin control.

Technical Abstract: Plant-derived antifungal compounds are preferred to chemicals to reduce the risk of toxic effects on humans, livestock and the environment. Essential oil extracted from rhizomes and plant extracts of ornamental ginger lily (Hedychium spp.) were evaluated for their antifungal activity against two fungi, Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioides that produce two major classes of mycotoxins, aflatoxin and fumonisin, respectively, on several crops. Essential oil or leaf extracts from several Hedychium species and varieties totally inhibited the growth of pre-germinated spores of A. flavus and F. verticillioides. Control of these two fungi by aqueous extracts of rhizome was not effective although reduced number of colonies were observed. In view of these results, essential oils or crude leaf extracts from Hedychium spp. need to be considered for the control of mycotoxin-producing fungi under storage conditions.