Short Communication: Fungicidal effect of flax seed oil against several fungal strains

Abstract. Mir RA, Ahmad MK. 2023. Short Communication: Fungicidal effect of flax seed oil against several fungal strains. Asian J Nat Prod Biochem 21: 1-5. The plant world is provided with innate biologically active secondary metabolites, which regulate its defense mechanism. Chemical fungicides pose a great threat to the plant kingdom regarding disease resistance and phytotoxicity. Furthermore, chemical fungicides provide a short spectrum and poor control of plant pathogens. Seed oils have a great potential to act as a natural fungicide against several plant pathogens. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity against eight fungal strains, Mucor mucedo, Penicillium expansum, Trichoderma viride, Trichoderma harzianum, Phytophthora crocatum, Aspergillus niger, Phytophthora infestans, and Venturia inaequalis by the poisoned food method. Antifungal activity was assessed regarding the inhibition percentage of radial growth on a solid medium (Potatoes Dextrose Agar/PDA). Flaxseed oil showed the highest (100%) antifungal activity against M. mucedo at a concentration of 5 ?L/mL, while moderate (53% and 60%) antifungal activity was recorded for P. expansum, and P. crocatum. However, linseed oil showed negative results against A. niger, T. viride, and T. harzianum. Thus, the results of the present study revealed that flaxseed oil has tremendous fungicidal activity and could become an alternative to synthetic fungicides for controlling certain dreadful plant fungal diseases.