Inhibitory effect of cinnamon, clove, lemongrass, oregano and palmarose essential oils on growth and fumonisin B 1 production by Fusarium proliferatum in maize grain

Abstract

The effect of cinnamon, clove, oregano, palmarose and lemongrass oils on growth and FB 1 production by three different isolates of F. proliferatum in irradiated maize grain at 0.995 and 0.950 a w and at 20 and 30 °C was evaluated. The five essential oils inhibited growth of F. proliferatum isolates at 0.995 a w at both temperatures, while at 0.950 a w only cinnamon, clove and oregano oils were effective in inhibiting growth of F. proliferatum at 20 °C and none of them at 30 °C. Cinnamon, oregano and palmarose oils had significant inhibitory effect on FB 1 production by the three strains of F. proliferatum at 0.995 a w and both temperatures, while clove and lemongrass oils had only significant inhibitory effect at 30 °C. No differences were found using 500 or 1000 μg essential oil g −1. At 0.950 a w, none of the essential oils had any significant effect on FB 1 production. The results suggest that mainly cinnamon and oregano oils could be effective in controlling growth and FB 1 production by F. proliferatum in maize under preharvest conditions.