Abstract
Several essential oils were evaluated for their efficacy as potential fungicides against Penicillium digitatum. Potato dextrose agar plates were streaked with a suspension of the spores of P. digitatum, then 10 µL of various essential oils were placed into a well in the center. After a period of growth the zone of inhibition was measured. Oils of cinnamon leaf, clove leaf, cumin and spearmint displayed larger than average zones of inhibition while the oils of Citrus sp. And wintergreen displayed minimal inhibition. While most plates displayed strong mycelial growth and sporulation outside the zone of inhibition, on the plates treated with cumin and wintergreen mycelial growth was weak and no spores developed.
