Abstract
The effect of eucalyptus essential oil on the germination of horticultural seeds and its antifungal activity against agriculturally important phytopathogens was evaluated. Essential oil concentrations of 1.0 %, 2.5 %, 5.0 %, and 10.0 % were applied, using sterile distilled water and a commercial biostimulant as controls. Moderate concentrations promoted seed germination and seedling vigor in selected species, whereas higher doses exhibited phytotoxic effects. In the antifungal evaluation, a significant inhibition of mycelial growth was observed in Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizoctonia solani, Pythium ultimum, and Botrytis cinerea, with a concentration-dependent reduction. Statistical analysis confirmed significant differences among treatments (p ≤ 0.05), demonstrating the potential of essential oil as a biostimulant and antifungal agent. These findings suggest that its application could be integrated into agroecological strategies for managing diseases in horticultural crops, contributing to reduced synthetic agrochemical use and promoting more sustainable agricultural production.
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