Potential of essential oils in inhibiting the phytopathogenic bacteria Ralstonia solanacearum and Erwinia carotovora.

Brazilian agricultural production is constantly harmed by the action of phytopathogenic bacteria, bringing economic damage to crops. Difficult to control and favored by the country's climatic conditions, "bacterial wilt" caused by Ralstonia solanacearum and "soft rot" by Erwinia carotovora are bacterial diseases that affect a wide range of hosts. As an alternative form of control, this study evaluated the inhibitory effect of the essential oils of Brazilian lemongrass (Elionurus latiflorus) and bitter orange (Citrus aurantium L.) rich in citral and limonene. Respectively, in the control of the phytopathogenic bacteria R. solanacearum and E. carotovora. The antimicrobial effect of essential oils was evaluated by means of disk diffusion tests, at doses of 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 15 μL for E. latiflorus oil and 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20 and 30 μL for C. aurantium. The results showed that the essential oil of E. latiflorus showed an antimicrobial effect against both bacteria. At the dose of 15 μL, there was inhibition of 86.46 and 88.90% for the bacteria R. solanacearum and E. carotovora, respectively. The essential oil of C. aurantium showed no inhibition against any of the bacteria tested. The results indicate that the essential oil of E. latiflorus can be a natural, ecological and efficient alternative in the control of phytopathogenic bacteria.