Investigation of antibacterial effects of some medicinal plants against corn stalk rot (Dickeya zea)

It is very important to use environmentally friendly and sustainable methods in the control of bacterial stem rot disease in maize caused by the pathogen Dickeya zeae. One of these methods is the use of medicinal and aromatic plant extracts and their essential oils. In this study, the antibacterial effect of Lavandula stoechas, Micromeria myrtifolia, Origanum sryacum and Thymbra spicata extracts and essential oils collected from Alan plateau of Ceylanlı village of Kırıkhan district of Antakya province on Dickeya zeae was investigated. While preparing the plant extracts, 80% ethanol, 80% methanol and sterile distilled water were used as solvents and 80% ethanol was found to be the most successful solvent. In vitro petri experiments, the highest antibacterial effect against Dickeya zeae was obtained in Thymbra spicata and Origanum syriacum essential oils. These were followed by Thymbra spicata, Origanum syriacum and Lavandula stoechas plant extracts and Lavandula stoechas essential oil using 80% ethanol as solvent. In conclusion, plant extracts and essential oils found effective can be used as an alternative to chemicals in the control of this disease. Key Words: Thymbra, Origanum, Lavandula, organic farming, sustainable agriculture