Thesis (Ph.D. (Chemistry)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / Fusarium species are among pathogenic organisms responsible for massive yield and quality losses in crop production. They cause crop diseases in the field and during storage, and some species are capable of producing mycotoxins which contaminate products and threaten consumer s’ health. Conventional synthetic fungicides are available for the control of Fusarium pathogens, however, their applications have been restricted or discouraged due to their harmful effect on the environment, livestocks and human health. There are also reports about fungal-resistance to available fungicides. Moreover, the synthetic chemicals are not affordable to smallholder farmers and to some extent, they are not recommended for applications in organic farming. As an alternative to these fungicides, selected medicinal plant species were investigated as sources of natural chemicals or compounds with potential to be developed into plant-based fungicides to control Fusarium pathogens. This study aimed to identify antifungal extracts among the selected medicinal plant species which could be used to develop plant-based fungicides to control Fusarium diseases. It also focused on isolation and characterization of antifungal compounds from selected medicinal plant species. Thirteen medicinal plant species (Combretum erythrophyllum (Burch.) Sond , Melia azedarach L, Solanum mauritianum Scop, Nicotiana glauca Graham, Schotia brachypetala Sond, Lantana camara L, Combretum molle R. Br. ex G. Don, Quercus acutissima Carruth, Olea europaea L, Vangueria infausta Burch, Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, Harpephyllum caffrum Bernh and Senna didymobotrya (Fresen.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby) were selected from literature based on their reported strong antimicrobial activity against human and/or animal pathogens. The leaves of these plant species were collected, shade-dried and extracted with water, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and acetone. Extractant yield was recorded and each extract was evaluated for antifungal activity using a micro-dilution assay against nine Fusarium pathogens (Fusarium verticillioides, Fusarium proliferatum, Fusarium subglutinans, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium solani, xxvii Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium semitectum, Fusarium chlamydosporum and Fusarium equiseti). Similar solvent extracts from different plant species that demonstrated MIC value of less than 0.1 mg/ml against the same pathogen were combined and evaluated for antifungal activity. The interation effect of combined extracts was determined by calculating their fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) in order to determine their possible synergistic, additive, indifference or antagonistic antifungal activity against tested pathogens. Plant extracts demonstrating synergistic and or additive interaction were further evaluated in combination and individually for in vivo antifungal activity against maize seed Fusarium pathogens. At least, one of the extracts obtained from these medicinal plant species showed strong antifungal activity with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of less than 0.1 mg/ml against at least one of the tested pathogens. Of the four solvent extracts evaluated, acetone and ethyl acetate extracts showed stronger antifungal activity compared to petroleum ether and water extracts. Of the nine pathogens tested, F. proliferatum was the most susceptible and was strongly inhibited (MIC < 0.1 mg/ml) by 41 plant extracts whilst F. equisite was found to be resistant with MIC < 0.1 mg/ml by only three plant extracts. In total, each pathogen was tested against 52 plant extracts. There were 17, 16 and 15 extracts from C. erythrophyllum, S. mauritianum and Q. acutissima, respectively, with MIC values less than 0.1 mg/ml. These species were the most active when tested individually. Schotia brachypetala was found to be the least active medicinal plant with only seven extracts demonstrating very strong activity (MIC < 0.1 mg/ml) against the tested pathogens. Minimum inhibitory dilution (MID) or total activity was also calculated and it was found that water and acetone extracts had the highest MID, followed by ethyl acetate extracts while petroleum ether extracts recorded the lowest. Of all plant extracts tested against the nine pathogens, 59 plant extracts demonstrated MID values of more than 1000 ml/g. Out of the 348 extract combinations evaluated, 116 and 87 extract combinations demonstrated synergistic and additive antifungal activity, respectively. The strongest activity xxviii recorded for the combined extracts resulted from synergistic interaction with MIC value of 0.001 mg/ml against F. proliferatum and F. verticilloides. Combined acetone extract of C. erythrophyllum and Q. acutissima was very active (95.75% inhibition) against F. verticilloides inoculated on maize seeds while individual preparation from M. azedarach acetone extract demonstrated 97.10% inhibition against F. proliferatum. The extracts showing good antifungal activity (≥ 50% inhibition) were further tested for phytotoxicity on maize seed germination and the lowest recorded seed germination was 86.25%, resulting from Q. acutissima ethyl acetate extract. Combined acetone extract of C. erythrophyllum and Q. acutissima did not significantly affect maize seedling growth when compared to negative control (water treatment). All plant extracts that showed strong activity (MIC < 0.1 mg/ml) when tested using micro-dilution assay were spotted on thin layer chromatography (TLC) bioautographic assay to establish and determine the number of active compounds or bands. The white spots observed on the chromatograms indicated the presence of antifungal compounds. Combretum erythrophyllum, W. somnifera and L. camara exhibited the presence of antifungal compounds against 7, 5 and 4 pathogens, respectively. Hence, these plant species were selected for isolation of antifungal compounds where open column chromatography and preparative TLC were used for compound purification. At least, three isolated fractions from the three plant species were found to be active (MIC values ranging from 0.0098 to 0.625 mg/ml) against more than five pathogens. The fractions were also found to contain different levels of phytochemicals such as glycosides, flavonoids, steroids, and terpernoids. The structures of isolated compounds or fractions were determined using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectroscopic (MS) techniques. A mixture of apeginin (4′,5,7-trihydroxyflavone) and salvigenin (5-hydroxy-6,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone) isolated from the leaves of C. erythrophyllum showed strong antifungal activity (MIC values ranging from 0.01 mg/ml to 0.63 mg.ml) against 5 tested Fusarium pathogens. Also isolated from C. erythrophyllum was a derivative of maslinic acid and it has xxix shown antifungal activity with MIC values ranging from 0.08 mg/ml to 0.63 mg/ml against 6 tested pathogens. On the other hand, lantadene A (22- angeloyloxy-9-hydroxy-3-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid), boswellic acid (11-keto-β-boswellic acid) and boswellic acid glycoside isolated from the leaves of Lantana camara showed good activity (MIC values ≤ 0.63 mg/ml) against one or more Fusarium pathogens. Withaferin A (4β,27-dihydroxy-1-oxo-5β,6β-epoxywitha-2-24-dienolide) glycoside isolated from the leaves of Withania somnifera showed antifungal activity with MIC value of 0.16 mg/ml against F. verticilloides. This study demonstrated potential applications of medicinal plant extracts as cheap, accessible and sustainable source of eco-friendly pesticides for fighting crop diseases in organic and smallholder farming. The extracts can be used as treatment agents to control maize seed spoilage during post-harvest storage. Additionally, characterised antifungals may serve as scaffold compounds during commercial synthesis of plant-based fungicides. / Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and National Research Foundation (NRF)

No description available.

The effects of sterol-inhibiting fungicides (SIFs) on the free sterol and free fatty acid composition of apple leaves of Red Delicious and Jonathan cultivars were examiried over a 2 year period. Trees were treated in mornings vs evenings throughout each season and samples collected after 24 and 72 hours after each treatment. Generally, SIFs appeared to have an effect on the free sterol content of apple leaves after 24 hours, but the concentrations of free sterol returned to normal after 72 hours in the leaves of both cultivars. Morning versus evening application had little or no influence on leaf free sterol concentrations. There were increases in unsaturated and total fatty acid concentrations in Red Delicious leaves 24 hours following applications with the SIF, etaconazole, and the non-sterol-inhibiting fungicide (NSIF), metiram, early in the season. There were also increased concentrations of linoleic, linolenic and total free fatty acids in fenarimol and triadimefon-treated Jonathan leaves 72 hours after treatment. Early in the season, the SIF, fenarimol, caused an increase in linolenic acid in both Red Delicious and Jonathan leaves 72 hours after either morning or evening applications. Generally, both the Red Delicious and Jonathan leaves exhibited a decrease in saturated fatty acids following morning application whereas, an increase in saturation following evening application. Although SIFs may have had an effect primarily on the unsaturated fatty acids, particularly linolenic acid, early in the season, particularly linolenic acid, the fatty acid composition of the leaves appeared to return to normal later in the season. Ultrastructural observations were made of Red Delicious leaves 12, 24 and 72 hours after treatment with the SIF, bitertanol. Twelve hours after treatment thylakoids of chloroplasts appeared swollen and irregular resulting in loss of integrity of the organelles. However, after 24 and 72 hours, thylakoids of chloroplasts of treated leaves were similar to the controls. Infection of bitertanol-treated Red Delicious leaves by Spilocaea pomi was also examined at the fine structural level. Nuclear envelopes were not well defined and mitochondrial matrices appeared washed-out after 12 and 72 hours post treatment. There was dissolution of normally plate-like cristae of mitochondria, accompanied by the accumulation of minute electron dense bodies around their periphery. Invaginations and proliferations of the plasmalemma were observed as well as increased vacuolization of the cell. Further electron microscopic observations were made of the in vitro conidial state of Venturia inaequalis following the application of fenarimol. Conidia treated 2 hours with the fungicide for had necrotic areas throughout the cytoplasm. The plasmalemma was not well defined, and appeared to be degrading. Increased vacuolization was observed as were numerous lipid bodies and multivesicular complexes (MVCs) which contained vesicles of varying electron densities. Structural integrity of the organelles was such that they were difficult to discern. After 12 hours, the entire fungal cell was necrotic accompanied by the degradation of the cell wall. Detection of a selected number of SIFs in apple leaf tissue using bioassay procedures were also evaluated. It was found that the leaf disk and leaf extract bioassays examined in this study were ineffective in determining the presence of SIFs in apple leaves. / Ph. D.

Soybean rust (SBR) caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi Syd. is an aggressive wind dispersed fungal disease which has spread around the world at an alarming rate in the last decade. The disease was first reported in South Africa (SA) in 2001. It has become well established in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Reports are occasionally made from eastern Mpumalanga, late in the growing season, in years with good rainfall. Yield losses of 10 - 80% have been reported due to SBR infection. Literature was reviewed to better understand the pathogen in an attempt to find suitable disease management strategies. Many strategies involve delaying, rather than preventing, SBR infection. Of the two strategies to prevent infection, the use of fungicides was the only option for disease control in SA, as no resistant cultivars are available. Field trials were conducted to determine which fungicides are effective in controlling SBR. Further research was conducted to determine the timing, frequency and rate of fungicide applications for optimal control of SBR. Trials were evaluated for disease severity, seed yield and the effect of fungicides on seed quality. Fungicides from the triazole class of the sterol biosynthesis inhibiting group of fungicides were found to be the most effective in controlling SBR. A fungicide from the strobilurin group was found to be less effective than the triazoles at the suggested rate, but was found to be as effective when evaluated at higher dosage rates. Triazoles premixed with fungicides from the benzimidazole and strobilurin groups were also effective in controlling SBR. Timing of application was found to be critical for strobilurin fungicides, but not for triazole fungicides, which have a curative ability, unlike strobilurins. Strobilurin fungicides applied preventatively, before the appearance of disease symptoms were as effective as triazole fungicides applied after disease symptoms, but before infection levels had reached 10%. Across both wet and dry seasons two fungicide applications applied at 21d intervals at the R2 growth stage resulted in effective disease control. In wet seasons, a third fungicide application resulted in yields that were higher, albeit not statistically significant, than two fungicide applications. Assessments of individual fungicides for optimal dosage rate found that registered rates were already optimal for some fungicides, but for others it appeared as if alterations were necessary to the rate suggested for registration. This study was one of the first to extensively evaluate the efficacy of the new triazole and strobilurin fungicides on SBR control. The results have been shared globally, but particularly with newly affected countries in South and North America. Although this research has been groundbreaking, there are still many aspects of fungicide control which need to be studied in order to further optimise chemical control of SBR. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T12:42:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1309198 bytes, checksum: d65db94e2ef0c47a8b4a59379f09b014 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-01-31 / Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais / The culture of strawberry , Fragaria x ananassa Duch, has faced several problems, among which we highlight those caused by pathogens. In addition to widely known diseases such as gray mold, new diseases have caused serious damage to the crop. In order to study the various problems of strawberry culture, this study aimed to: i) identify the causal agent of a postharvest fruit rot in strawberry , ii) to study the temporal and spatial dynamics of the redness in strawberry, whose etiology is still unknown; iii) determine the species of Botrytis that cause gray mold in strawberry in Brazil iv) conduct a survey of the current situation of fungicides for control of gray mold on strawberry v) to study the sensitivity of isolates of B. cinerea to dicarboxamide and benzimidazole fungicides. In order to identify the causal agent of post harvest fruit rot of strawberry, isolates from symptomatic fruits were analyzed by morphologic and phylogenetic analyzes. After confirming the pathogenicity of the isolates, species identification as Neofusicoccum kwambonambiense and N. parvum was taken. This is the first report of the occurrence of Neofusicoccum kwambonambiense in Brazil and the first report of Neofusicoccum spp. causing rot in strawberry. By studying the pattern of temporal and spatial distribution of the redness of strawberry was conducted in four areas of commercial cultivation. With the data on incidence of disease progress curves and dispersion maps were constructed, and analysis of aggregation of plants by ordinary runs test. The results showed that the disease has a similar disease biotic distribution pattern similar to diseases which are dispersed in the row. To achieve other goals, isolates were obtained from plants with symptoms of gray mold on various properties of different cities in the states of Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais and São Paulo, totaling 200 isolates. Initially, a study was conducted to verify the occurrence of other species of Botrytis in the fields of strawberry cultivation in Brazil. For this, the extraction of DNA from all strains was performed, followed by PCR with the specific species and B. cinerea and B. caroliniana primers. Despite the morphological variation observed among isolates , all were identified as B. cinerea . The survey on the practices used to control gray mold on strawberry was performed directly with the producers, who were asked about the products used for the control of disease, efficiency of these products and use of the practice of removing diseased material . It was possible to observe many problems, especially reduced use of cultural control measures, the use of products not recommended for culture and the low level of knowledge of the farmers. Finally, the sensitivity analysis of the isolated main culture fungicides (iprodione , procymidone and thiophanate- methyl) was carried. Thus, a total of 100 isolates were grown in culture medium containing different doses of the fungicide was used. The results showed that 89% of isolates were insensitive to thiophanate-methyl fungicide, 36% to and 54% to procymidone. Considering the limited number of fungicides registered for the control of gray mold and the low sensitivity of isolates of B. cinerea to these products , it becomes difficult to manage this important disease of strawberry. / A cultura do morangueiro, Fragaria x ananassa Duch, tem enfrentado diversos problemas, dentre os quais destacam-se os causados por patógenos. Além de doenças amplamente conhecidas, como o mofo cinzento, novas doenças vêm causando sérios danos à cultura. Visando estudar os diversos problemas da cultura do morangueiro, este trabalho teve por objetivos: i) identificar o agente causal de uma podridão pós-colheita em frutos de morango; ii) estudar a dinâmica temporal e espacial do vermelhão do morangueiro, cuja etiologia é ainda desconhecida; iii) determinar as espécies de Botrytis que causam mofo cinzento em morangueiro no Brasil; iv) realizar um levantamento da situação atual do uso de fungicidas para controle do mofo cinzento do morangueiro; v) estudar a sensibilidade de isolados de B. cinerea aos fungicidas dicarboxamidas e benzimidazóis. A fim de identificar o agente causal da podridão pós-colheita de frutos de morango, isolados obtidos a partir de frutos sintomáticos foram analisados por meio de análises morfológicas e filogenéticas. Após a confirmação da patogenicidade dos isolados, foi feita a identificação das espécies como Neofusicoccum kwambonambiense e N. parvum. Este é o primeiro relato da ocorrência de Neofusicoccum kwambonambiense no Brasil e o primeiro relato de Neofusicoccum spp. causando podridão em morango. O estudo do padrão de distribuição temporal e espacial do vermelhão do morangueiro foi realizado em quatro áreas de cultivo comercial. Com os dados de incidência da doença foram construídas curvas de progresso e mapas de dispersão, além da análise de agregação de plantas pelo teste de ordinário runs. Os resultados mostraram que a doença apresenta comportamento semelhante a uma doença biótica com padrão de distribuição semelhante ao de doenças que se dispersam na linha de plantio. Para atingir os demais objetivos, foram obtidos isolados a partir de plantas com sintomas do mofo cinzento, em diversas propriedades de diferentes cidades nos estados do Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais e São Paulo, totalizando 200 isolados. Inicialmente, foi realizado um estudo para verificar a ocorrência de outra espécie de Botrytis nos campos de cultivo de morango no Brasil. Para isso, foi feita a extração de DNA de todos os isolados, seguindo-se à reação de PCR com primers específicos para as espécies B. cinerea e B. caroliniana. Apesar da variação morfológica observada entre os isolados, todos foram identificados como B. cinerea. O levantamento sobre as práticas utilizadas para controle do mofo cinzento do morangueiro foi realizado diretamente com os produtores, que foram questionados quanto aos produtos utilizados para o controle da doença, eficiência de controle dos produtos e uso da prática de retirada de material doente. Foi possível observar diversos problemas, destacando-se o reduzido uso de medidas de controle cultural, o uso de produtos não recomendados para a cultura e o baixo nível de conhecimento dos produtores. Por fim, foi realizada a análise de sensibilidade dos isolados aos principais fungicidas utilizados na cultura (iprodiona, procimidona e tiofanato-metílico). Para isso, foi utilizado um total de 100 isolados, os quais foram crescidos em meio de cultura contendo diferentes doses dos fungicidas. Os resultados mostraram que 89% dos isolados foram insensíveis ao fungicida tiofanato-metílico, 36% ao iprodiona e 54% ao procimidona. Considerando o número restrito de fungicidas registrados para o controle do mofo cinzento e a baixa sensibilidade dos isolados de B. cinerea a estes produtos, torna-se difícil o manejo dessa importante doença do morangueiro.

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of harvesting time and water stress on the chemical composition of the essential oil and to test the activities against ticks and fungus of the essential oil of L. gracilis. For the analysis of harvest season the plant material was collected from seven genotypes of L. gracilis at the Research Farm "Campus Rural da UFS", in the rainy and dry seasons. The experiment testing water stress was conducted in the dry season. The extraction of essential oils was performed in the Laboratory of Phytotechnology of the UFS through hydrodistillation. Chemical analysis of the essential oil performed using GC-MS in the Laboratory of Chromatography of the UFS. For the activity tests against ticks package larvae and immersion of engorged tick Rhipicephalus microplus in different concentrations of essential oil, thymol or carvacrol. To test of fungicidal activity, the essential oil at different concentrations was added to PDA medium. Each plate was inoculated with mycelia culture of Thielaviopis paradoxa. The essential oil of L. gracilis presented two distinct chemotypes, one genotype LGRA-106 presenting as major compound thymol and the other genotypes presenting carvacrol as major compound. The leaves provided essential oil with an average grade of 1.55% in the rainy season and 2.09% in the dry season. In the rainy season there was no significant difference in both the yield and the content. The chemical composition of essential oils L. gracilis showed high levels of terpenes, 92% in the rainy season and 96% in the dry season. In the experiment with irrigation the values of content and yield of all genotypes were smaller when compared without irrigation. In general, the species L. gracilis, for the presence of water in the soil, provides stability in the chemical composition of the essential oil regardless of season, since plants subjected to irrigation, even in the dry season, the essential oil produced in quantity and quality similar to the rainy season. The essential oil of L. gracilis exhibits high activity against ticks, proven by lethal concentrations of genotypes LGRA-201 (1.31 mg.mL-1) and LGRA-106 (4.66 mg.mL-1), demonstrating efficiency in the control of this parasite. The tests showed that the concentrations 0.45; 0.91 and 2.75 mg.mL-1 of all genotypes of L. gracilis completely inhibited the development of the pathogen T. paradoxa, corresponding to a percentage of mycelium growth inhibition of 100%. The concentration of 0.18 mg.mL-1 of essential oil was sufficient to significantly reduce the number of spores of T. paradoxa. The minimal fungicidal concentration T. paradoxa was found between concentrations from 0.80 to 0.98 mg.mL-1 for the essential oils and 0.26 mg.mL-1 for carvacrol and 0.35 mg.mL-1 to thymol. / O presente trabalho teve como objetivo determinar a influencia da época de colheita e do estresse hídrico na composição química do óleo essencial e testar a atividade carrapaticida e fungicida do óleo essencial de L. gracilis. Para as análises de época de colheita o material vegetal foi colhido de sete genótipos de L. gracilis no Campus Rural da UFS , nas épocas chuvosa e seca. Já para o ensaio de estresse hídrico o experimento foi conduzido na época seca. A extração de óleos essenciais foi realizada no Laboratório de Fitotecnia da UFS, por meio de hidrodestilação. A análise química do óleo essencial foi realizada utilizando CG-EM, no Laboratório de Cromatografia da UFS. Para a atividade carrapaticida foram realizadas os testes de pacote de larvas e de imersão de fêmeas ingurgitadas do carrapato Rhipicephalus microplus em diversas concentrações de óleo essencial, timol ou carvacrol. Para o teste de atividade fungicida, o óleo essencial, em diferentes concentrações foi adicionado ao meio BDA. Cada placa foi inoculada com micélios da cultura monospórica de Thielaviopis paradoxa. O óleo essencial de L. gracilis apresentou dois quimiotipos distintos um com o genótipo LGRA-106 apresentando o composto timol como majoritário e os demais o carvacrol. As folhas forneceram óleos essenciais amarelados com teor médio de 1,55% na época chuvosa e 2,09% na seca. Na época chuvosa não houve diferença significativa tanto no rendimento como no teor. A composição química dos óleos essenciais de L. gracilis apresentou altos níveis de terpenos, 92% na época chuvosa e 96% na época seca. No ensaio com irrigação os valores de teor e rendimento de todos os genótipos são menores quando comparado com o ensaio sem irrigação. De maneira geral a espécie L. gracilis, quanto à presença de água no solo, apresenta estabilidade na composição química do óleo essencial independente da época do ano, uma vez que as plantas submetidas à irrigação, mesmo no verão, produziram óleo essencial em quantidade e qualidade semelhantes à época do inverno. O óleo essencial de L. gracilis apresenta alta atividade carrapaticida, comprovados pelas concentrações letais dos genótipos LGRA-201 (1,31 mg.mL-1) e LGRA-106 (4,66 mg.mL-1), demonstrando eficiência no controle desse parasita. Os ensaios demonstraram que as concentrações 0,45; 0,91 e 2,75mg.mL-1 de todos os genótipos de L. gracilis inibiram completamente o desenvolvimento do patógeno T. paradoxa, correspondendo a uma porcentagem de inibição do crescimento micelial de 100%. A concentração de 0,18mg.mL-1 de óleo essencial foi suficiente para reduzir significativamente o número de esporos de T. paradoxa. A concentração fungicida mínima de T. paradoxa foi encontrada entre as concentrações de 0,80 a 0,98mg.mL-1 para os óleos essenciais e 0,26mg.mL-1 para o carvacrol, e 0,35mg.mL-1 para o timol.

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of harvesting time and water stress on the chemical composition of the essential oil and to test the activities against ticks and fungus of the essential oil of L. gracilis. For the analysis of harvest season the plant material was collected from seven genotypes of L. gracilis at the Research Farm "Campus Rural da UFS", in the rainy and dry seasons. The experiment testing water stress was conducted in the dry season. The extraction of essential oils was performed in the Laboratory of Phytotechnology of the UFS through hydrodistillation. Chemical analysis of the essential oil performed using GC-MS in the Laboratory of Chromatography of the UFS. For the activity tests against ticks package larvae and immersion of engorged tick Rhipicephalus microplus in different concentrations of essential oil, thymol or carvacrol. To test of fungicidal activity, the essential oil at different concentrations was added to PDA medium. Each plate was inoculated with mycelia culture of Thielaviopis paradoxa. The essential oil of L. gracilis presented two distinct chemotypes, one genotype LGRA-106 presenting as major compound thymol and the other genotypes presenting carvacrol as major compound. The leaves provided essential oil with an average grade of 1.55% in the rainy season and 2.09% in the dry season. In the rainy season there was no significant difference in both the yield and the content. The chemical composition of essential oils L. gracilis showed high levels of terpenes, 92% in the rainy season and 96% in the dry season. In the experiment with irrigation the values of content and yield of all genotypes were smaller when compared without irrigation. In general, the species L. gracilis, for the presence of water in the soil, provides stability in the chemical composition of the essential oil regardless of season, since plants subjected to irrigation, even in the dry season, the essential oil produced in quantity and quality similar to the rainy season. The essential oil of L. gracilis exhibits high activity against ticks, proven by lethal concentrations of genotypes LGRA-201 (1.31 mg.mL-1) and LGRA-106 (4.66 mg.mL-1), demonstrating efficiency in the control of this parasite. The tests showed that the concentrations 0.45; 0.91 and 2.75 mg.mL-1 of all genotypes of L. gracilis completely inhibited the development of the pathogen T. paradoxa, corresponding to a percentage of mycelium growth inhibition of 100%. The concentration of 0.18 mg.mL-1 of essential oil was sufficient to significantly reduce the number of spores of T. paradoxa. The minimal fungicidal concentration T. paradoxa was found between concentrations from 0.80 to 0.98 mg.mL-1 for the essential oils and 0.26 mg.mL-1 for carvacrol and 0.35 mg.mL-1 to thymol. / O presente trabalho teve como objetivo determinar a influencia da época de colheita e do estresse hídrico na composição química do óleo essencial e testar a atividade carrapaticida e fungicida do óleo essencial de L. gracilis. Para as análises de época de colheita o material vegetal foi colhido de sete genótipos de L. gracilis no Campus Rural da UFS , nas épocas chuvosa e seca. Já para o ensaio de estresse hídrico o experimento foi conduzido na época seca. A extração de óleos essenciais foi realizada no Laboratório de Fitotecnia da UFS, por meio de hidrodestilação. A análise química do óleo essencial foi realizada utilizando CG-EM, no Laboratório de Cromatografia da UFS. Para a atividade carrapaticida foram realizadas os testes de pacote de larvas e de imersão de fêmeas ingurgitadas do carrapato Rhipicephalus microplus em diversas concentrações de óleo essencial, timol ou carvacrol. Para o teste de atividade fungicida, o óleo essencial, em diferentes concentrações foi adicionado ao meio BDA. Cada placa foi inoculada com micélios da cultura monospórica de Thielaviopis paradoxa. O óleo essencial de L. gracilis apresentou dois quimiotipos distintos um com o genótipo LGRA-106 apresentando o composto timol como majoritário e os demais o carvacrol. As folhas forneceram óleos essenciais amarelados com teor médio de 1,55% na época chuvosa e 2,09% na seca. Na época chuvosa não houve diferença significativa tanto no rendimento como no teor. A composição química dos óleos essenciais de L. gracilis apresentou altos níveis de terpenos, 92% na época chuvosa e 96% na época seca. No ensaio com irrigação os valores de teor e rendimento de todos os genótipos são menores quando comparado com o ensaio sem irrigação. De maneira geral a espécie L. gracilis, quanto à presença de água no solo, apresenta estabilidade na composição química do óleo essencial independente da época do ano, uma vez que as plantas submetidas à irrigação, mesmo no verão, produziram óleo essencial em quantidade e qualidade semelhantes à época do inverno. O óleo essencial de L. gracilis apresenta alta atividade carrapaticida, comprovados pelas concentrações letais dos genótipos LGRA-201 (1,31 mg.mL-1) e LGRA-106 (4,66 mg.mL-1), demonstrando eficiência no controle desse parasita. Os ensaios demonstraram que as concentrações 0,45; 0,91 e 2,75mg.mL-1 de todos os genótipos de L. gracilis inibiram completamente o desenvolvimento do patógeno T. paradoxa, correspondendo a uma porcentagem de inibição do crescimento micelial de 100%. A concentração de 0,18mg.mL-1 de óleo essencial foi suficiente para reduzir significativamente o número de esporos de T. paradoxa. A concentração fungicida mínima de T. paradoxa foi encontrada entre as concentrações de 0,80 a 0,98mg.mL-1 para os óleos essenciais e 0,26mg.mL-1 para o carvacrol, e 0,35mg.mL-1 para o timol.