Correlation between the chemical composition of fresh and dried Cymbopogon citratus essential oil fractions and their antifungal effects against the causal agents of brown spot and bakanae diseases of rice

The fresh and dried whole plant (CF and CD respectively) of Cympopogon citratus essen tial oils (EOs) and its fractions, were tested, for their antifungal activities against Bipolaris oryzae and Fusarium moniliforme; respectively responsible of brown spot and bakanae disease of rice (Oryzae sativa L). Their chemical compositions were obtained by GC-GC/MS analysis and correlated with their bio logical activities. All six collected EO fractions of C. citratus contain myrcene, limonene, α-gurjunene, neral and geranial, but in different proportions. Neral (45.64 - 79.00%) predominant in CD1, CD2, CDm, CFm, and geranial (18.79 - 45.64%) in CF1, CF2; were found as major components. A positive correlation between the biological activity and the predominant constitu ent (citral) content was not always apparent. Carvac rol acetate and farnesol (2E, 6Z) were found only in EO fractions from fresh plants (CF1, CF2, CFm), and have high antifungal activity against B. oryzae and F. moniliforme compared to that of fractions from dried plants (CD1, CD2, CDm). The EO fractions collected within the first 60 min starting from the moment the first drop of EO was dropped (CF1, CD1), were more active than the fractions collected after 61 min (CF2, CD2). Cedrol, hexahydrofarnesyl acetone, γ-decalactone, β-bisabolol, α-muurolol, cavacrol and β-eudesmol, were present in low amount in CF2 and CD2 and absent in CF1 and CD1. The results serve as benchmark for researchers/industries, in fast and better targeting bioactive compounds and identify plausible interactions that may exist between constituents of an essential oil for a given biological activity. the biological activity and the predominant constitu ent (citral) content was not always apparent. Carvac rol acetate and farnesol (2E, 6Z) were found only in EO fractions from fresh plants (CF1, CF2, CFm), and have high antifungal activity against B. oryzae and F. moniliforme compared to that of fractions from dried plants (CD1, CD2, CDm). The EO fractions collected within the first 60 min starting from the moment the first drop of EO was dropped (CF1, CD1), were more active than the fractions collected after 61 min (CF2, CD2). Cedrol, hexahydrofarnesyl acetone, γ-decalactone, β-bisabolol, α-muurolol, cavacrol and β-eudesmol, were present in low amount in CF2 and CD2 and absent in CF1 and CD1. The results serve as benchmark for researchers/industries, in fast and better targeting bioactive compounds and identify plausible interactions that may exist between constituents of an essential oil for a given biological activity.