Current status of the effectiveness of essential oils for controlling phytopathogenic fungi, a review

Abstract

Essential oils (EOs) are volatile plant derivatives that have been evaluated in the control of phytopathogenic fungi, and whose effectiveness has been associated with the part of the plant and concentration used. Hereby we provide an overview of the role of EOs on phytopathogenic fungi agents, presenting an overview of its diversity, constituents, tests under in vivo and in vitro conditions, their mechanisms of action, and the techniques to assess its effectiveness. The antimicrobial action of EOs is attributed to their ability to penetrate through cell membranes and inhibit the functional properties of fungal cells.