Potentiality of some essential oils and algae extract spray treatments on suppressing wheat stem rust severity under field conditions

Abstract

Evaluation of some essential oils as well as algal extracts on stem rust severity of three wheat cultivars were conducted for two successive growing seasons under field conditions. Suppressing disease severity in response to the applied treatments was observed at the two growing seasons. Spraying wheat plants with tested essential oils had superior effect against disease severity followed by algal extracts, the fungicide (Topsin M70) and untreated control, respectively. Garlic oil revealed the highest suppression of disease severity followed by cinnamon, thyme, onion and clove oils, respectively. Meanwhile, the algal extract of S. platensis showed the highest reduction in disease severity followed by A. coffeaeformis and N. oculata, in respective order. The increase in produced yield showed in reverse relation with disease severity. The applied treatments showed their effectivity to suppress stem rust disease severity as a safe alternative method to chemical fungicides under field conditions.