Physicochemical Properties and Fungitoxicity of the Essential Oil of Citrus medica L. against Groundnut Storage Fungi

Authors: EMMANUEL PETER ESSIEN, JOSEPH PETER ESSIEN, BASIL NSE ITA, GODWIN ASUKWO EBONG

Abstract: The in vitro antifungal effect of the essential oil of Citrus medica L. on storage fungi of Arachis hypogea L. stored for 6 months was evaluated using the disc diffusion agar method. The oil exhibited a wide spectrum of fungitoxicity, inhibiting all 14 fungus species tested. Thus, the oil can be exploited as a fumigant against storage fungi for the preservation of stored legume seeds due to its wide range of activity, non-phytotoxicity, and long-term persistence of fungitoxicity.

Keywords: Citrus medica, essential oil, fungitoxicity, storage fungi, groundnut

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