Abstract

Natural products from plants have great potential as novel fungicide sources for controlling pathogenic fungi. The aims of this study were to examine the chemical composition of the leave powders and extract (Hexane, methanol and water) of Mexican plants and to test in vitro, their efficacy as antifungal potential against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. gladioli. All the species showed antifungal activity in the methanol extract. Chemical analysis of leave powders and extracts of Byrsonima crassifolia, Ocimum basilicum, Persea americana, Psidium guajava and Spondias purpurea by gas chromatography and spectrometry of masses (CG-MS) analysis showed that 89 volatile compounds were present. Leave powders and extracts contained the following: sesquiterpenes (46.06%), fatty acids (23.6%), diterpenes (14.6%), phenolic compound (11.23%) and monoterpenes (4.7%). Sesquiterpenes were not detected in B. crassifolia. The powders and leaf of extract, at 5% (hexane and methanol) revealed remarkable antifungal effect in the growth inhibition of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. gladioli with a range of 15 to 67%. The high chemical diversity of the analyzed plant species results in different effects on the development of the fungus.

Key words: Gladiolus, botanic extracts, pathogenic fungi, growth inhibition.