Abstract. Research about antimicotic action of essential oils has been made for long time, but still little knowledge is available. Thus, there is particular interest especially for those postharvest pathogens that are difficult to be controlled. Some research emphasized high potential of essential oils to be used successfully against postharvest pathogens instead synthetic fungicides. Among the pathogens controlled by essential oils are known Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium italicum and Penicillium digitatum. The aim of this research was to assess the capacity of lavender and oregano essential oils to inhibit the mycelial growth of Penicillium expansum and Botrytis cinerea. Tests were made with oils in different concentrations and pathogens were isolated from the fruits skin and grown on specific medium being assessed the rate of mycelial growth. For both Penicillium expansum and Botrytis cinerea the rate of mycelial growth for control (no treated) was 0.29-0.30 mm/h. When 10 ml of essential oils were used it was observed that the rate of mycelial growth was very low for both pathogens, respectively 0,016 and 0,008 mm/h for Botrytis cinerea and 0,017 și 0,005 mm/h for Penicillium expansum. The inhibition rate was up to 90% for both pathogens, respectively 92,5% when lavender oil was applied, respectively 97.22% for oregano oil treatment. The results of the study emphasized that lavender and oregano essential oil had a significant impact on the inhibition on the growth of Botrytis cinerea și Penicillium expansum which can be an effective option for biological control of postharvest pathogens, substituting chemical fungicide control.

Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium expansum, lavender, oregano, essential oil.

Presentation: oral