Effect of essential oils from Thymus satureioides and Origanum compactum on wheat root rot induced by Fusarium culmorum and Bipolaris sorokiniana

Durum wheat, which is a major crop in Moroccan agriculture, faces significant constraints in its production. Among these constraints, root rot is disease is one of the most important and of which control is more or less ineffective, leading to the search for alternative control methods. The aims of the present study is to investigate the effect of essential oils extracted from Thymus satureioides and Origanum compactum on wheat root rot caused by Fusarium culmorum and Bipolaris sorokiniana. The plant material used was the durum wheat variety Ourgh. Foliar treatments were carried out using the essential oils of Origanum compactum and Thymus satureioides. Disease assessment focused on severity in the root system and at the base of the stems, specifically at the first nodes. The application of Origanum compactum at a concentration of 0.31 µl/ml and Thymus satureioides at 1.25 µl/ml reduced disease severity and increased yield. However, Thymus satureioides essential oil showed a significantly higher activity in increasing yield and both essential oils resulted in a similar reduction in disease severity. Based on these results, the evaluated essential oils represent a promising alternative for controlling wheat root rot disease.