In vitro evaluation of essential oil and water extracts from some medicinal and aromatic plants on colony growth of some soil and seed borne plant pathogens.

The effects of essential oil extracts from Lemongrass (cymbopogon citratus), Spearmint (Mentha spicata), and Basil (Ocimum gratissimum) and water extracts from Neem (Azadirachta indica), Argel (Solanostemma argel) and Bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdlina), after mixing with artificial medium at three different levels (10%, 20%, and 30%) in vitro against the well-known chickpea pathogens; Fusarium oxysporum. f. sp. ciceris. Fusarium solani. f.sp. ciceris and Alternaria alternata. The colonies growth was significantly reduced, of course with slight variation of the effectiveness of extracts according to their concentration used. According to the results of these studies, the extracts from the above mentioned medicinal and aromatic plants have the significant ability to inhibit the colonies growth of the different studied fungi. Argel and Neem aqueous extracts were found to be the more effective than the others, while Bitter leaf extract had moderate effect on the colonies growth of the above mentioned fungi