Phylogenetic analyses of fusarium oxysporum species complex on banana in Iran and evaluation of some essential oils on the growth, sporulation and spore germination of the fungus

Fusarium oxysporum, an important soil-borne fungal pathogen, is a species complex consisting of multiple cryptic species. Many special forms (f.sp.)are known in F. oxysporum, on the basis of the pathogenicity of each particular fungal isolate against particular host plants. F. oxysporum f.sp. cubense (Foc)is known as the causative agent of Panama disease on banana. In the present research, fungal isolates were obtained from the pseudostems of Musa acuminata var. Dwarf Cavendish in the south of Sistan Baluchestan Province in early 2022. A combination of two-locus sequence analysis of the concatenated rpb2 (DNA-directed RNA polymerase II largest subunit)and tef1 (translation elongation factor 1-?)partial sequences showed that the isolates belong to the Fusarium cugenangense (F. oxysporum species complex (FOSC)Clade 2). In order to use eco-friendly method for controlling fungi, the antifungal effect of some essential oils (EO)were evaluated based on mycelia growth, sporulation and spore germination and compared with a Iprodione+Carbendazim (Rovral-TS ®)fungicide. Of these, the antifungal effect of Satureja hortensis EO was higher than those from other plants examined in this research. GC/MS analysis was performed to identify the main components of S. hortensis EO. ?-pinene and Myrcene were the most important components with antifungal effects. The inhibitory concentration 50 and minimum inhibitory concentration of S. hortensis EO were 95 ppm and 174.75 ppm respectively, revealing that the essential oil gave better results at low concentration than the fungicide. Furthermore, a combination of ?-pinene with Myrcene resulted in a synergistic effect on the fungus. Other components showed additive effects.