Investigation of antifungal and herbicidal effects of thymus (thyme) species essential oils growing in Northeastern Anatolia region

In this research, Thymus species essential oils allelopathic effects against weed seeds and seedlings which are problem in cultivation areas and antifungal effects on fungi species which are important for phytopathology were investigated. Essential oils isolated by hydrodistillation method and the main constituents were analyzed by GC, GC-MS, RI methods. According to the analysis results γ-terpinene, p-cymene, thymol and 1,8-cineole were identified as major components of the oils. Petri experiments have shown that 5, 10 and 20 μL/petri concentrations of essential oils inhibited germination of selected weed seeds by 50,57-100%, root growth of -154,9-100% and shoot growth of 31,97-100%. In pot experiments, it was determined that 20 μL/pot concentrations of essential oils had a phytotoxic effect against weed seedlings by 5,0-71,6%. Antifungal effects of essential oils on fungi mycelial growth were found between 2,03% and 100%. The results showed that the essential oils of Thymus species have potential to use as a biopesticide in the struggle of weeds and soil-derived fungi in organic agriculture.