@article{
author = "Popović, Tatjana and Milićević, Zoran and Oro, Violeta and Kostić, Igor and Radović, Vesela and Jelušić, Aleksandra and Krnjajić, Slobodan",
year = "2018",
abstract = "Numerous scientific research studies all over the world have addressed the problem of
agriculture in the 21st century as being particularly sensitive to climate change, which has caused
phytopathogenic bacteria to spread. Therefore, there is a clear and urgent need to contain this
kind of risk in agricultural production (both conventional and organic farming). The objective
of this study was to determine the antibacterial activity of 30 essential oils (EOs) against three
harmful plant pathogenic bacteria of agricultural importance, Erwinia amylovora, Xanthomonas
campestris pv. campestris and Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae. The study included in vitro
testing, using an agar-diffusion assay. The EOs of Ceylon cinnamon (leaf and bark), oregano,
clove bud and palmarosa revealed antibacterial activity against the test bacteria, and the
maximum mean inhibition zone diameters of 35 mm was found against E. amylovora and X.
campestris pv. campestris (highly sensitive reaction), while it was smaller in the case of P. syringae
pv. syringae, from 18.25-26.25 mm (sensitive to very sensitive reaction). Maximum diameter of
the zone of inhibition (35 mm) was obtained using basil and peppermint against E. amylovora,
and rosemary, blue gum and camphor tree against X. campestris pv. campestris. Not a single
EO inhibited P. syringae pv. syringae with the resulting total diameter zone of 35 mm, and this
test bacteria was resultingly classified as the least susceptible bacterium of the three tested.
EOs of lemongrass, aniseed, ylang ylang, silver fir, lemon, dwarf mountain pine, bay laurel and
scots pine caused sensitive reaction of the tested bacteria. Peppermint, black cumin, Indian
frankincense, bergamot orange, common juniper, bitter orange and neem produced variable
reactions from total to weakly or no inhibition at all. Weakly activity was found in niaouli and
Atlas cedar. Eastern red cedar, patchouli, Indian sandalwood and ginger caused no reaction of
any of the test bacteria. The results offer a basis for further work based on in vivo testing for the
purpose of developing “natural pesticides” for control of phytopathogenic bacteria, thus giving
a significant contribution to reducing yield losses in agriculture and sustainable development",
publisher = "Institute of Pesticides and Environmental Protection",
journal = "Pesticidi i fitomedicina",
title = "A preliminary study of antibacterial activity of thirty essential oils against several important plant pathogenic bacteria",
pages = "195-185",
number = "3-4",
volume = "33",
doi = "10.2298/PIF1804185P"
}
