摘要：AbstractPhytopathogenic fungi are serious threats to fruit and vegetable production. Use of plant essential oil (PEO), as antifungal agents, have been in practice for many years. Essential oils (EO) of five plants i.e.,Trachyspermum ammi,Cuminum cyminum, Azadirachta indica,Citrus sinensisandEucalyptus grandiswere tested againstAlternaria solaniin tomato. The trials consisted of laboratory testing (MIC and MFC), field testing and Computer Aided Fungicide Design (CAFD) of PEOs againstA. solani. Each PEO was used at 10 and 25 µl/ml concentrations to asses MIC, while MFC was assessed at 25, 50 and 75µl/ml concentration.Trachyspermum ammiEO at 25µl/ml concentration showed the largest inhibition zone (37.3 mm) followed by a not significantly different zone(20.6 mm)produced byC. cyminumEO. No fungal growth was observed at 50µl/ml concentration ofT. ammiwhile, at 75µl/ml forA. indicaandC. cyminum. In foliar application,T. ammiEO showed lowest percent disease incidence (2.2) which was not significantly different from that ofC. cyminum. Trachyspermum ammiEO, qualified in laboratory and field trials, was selected for CAFD. Compounds ofT. ammiPEO docked against toxin producing enzyme, solanapyrone synthase, ofA. solani. Terpinen-4-ol was qualified as a lead compound againstA. solani.
