Filamentous fungi are the most common type of pathogenic microorganisms that reduce agricultural productivity and quality and cause major economic losses of crops
[1]. Mycotoxigenic fungi are known for their ability to colonize a wide range of cereal grains, vegetables, spices and fruits. This type of mold produces mycotoxins, which are associated with various effects on health of humans, including genotoxicity, carcinogenicity and immunosuppression
[2]. Currently, adoption of resistant cultivars and phytosanitary treatments are the main stays of prevention strategies to control infection by fungi
[3]. To minimize accumulation of residues in soil and novel fungal races with resistance to chemical treatments, new environmentally friendly, crop protection approaches are required
[4]. In this context, essential oils (EOs) offer potential alternatives to synthetic fungicides to improve protection measures against phytopathogenic fungi.
Due to its richness in dietary protein, minerals and vitamins, globally, chickpea (
Cicer arietinum) is one of the most nutritious seed legumes for human consumption
[5]. Losses of yields of leguminous crops during storage due to various types of insects, especially bruchids, is a serious problem for traders and farmers
[6]. Chickpea weevil (
Callosobruchus maculatus), is one of the most damaging pests of chickpea. This insect is able to lay eggs both in cultivated fields and storage areas. Its larvae, which feed internally on seeds, are difficult to control with chemical insecticides
[5]. Synthetic insecticides are routinely used to control pests in agricultural crops. However, their indiscriminate and excessive usage has led to harmful consequences for human health, environmental pollution, residues of pesticides on fruits, vegetables and seeds, insect pests and weeds resistant to effects of crop protection chemicals. Currently, due to their specificity for agricultural pests, and biodegradability, biopesticides developed from EOs might be a viable option for protecting crops while reducing negative effects of synthetic pesticides
[7].
Free radicals are chemical species with a single electron on their peripheral layer resulting from cellular oxidation in mammals. Free radicals can cause cytotoxic consequences and tissue lesions and also damage DNA. In order to defend itself, the human body needs antioxidant agents that neutralize these free radicals. Plants, through their secondary metabolites, provide powerful antioxidant agents to control and mitigate the harms of free radicals
[8].
Recently, EOs produced from aromatic plants have attracted interest because of their many biological actions
[9]. An EO is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile, easily evaporated at normal temperatures, chemical compounds isolated from plants. Essential oils are also known as volatile oils, ethereal oils, aetheroleum, or simply as the oil of the plant, from which they were extracted. EOs of various species of
Lavandula dentata (Lamiaceae) have a broad range of biological effects including sedative, antibacterial, antifungal, antidepressant, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
[10]. Due to its major terpenic components, such as linalool, camphor, eucalyptol, and linalyl acetate, these essences have also demonstrated considerable success for control of insects
[7]. However, there is a lack of information and research on other bioactivities of EOs from the Moroccan variety of
L. dentata, especially for insect pests in agriculture and some phytopathogenic fungi. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to characterize and assess antioxidant capacity and antifungal activity of EOs isolated from the aerial parts of
L. dentata, against some phytopathogenic fungi implicated in contamination of leguminous products. The study also investigated insecticidal activity of EOs of this emblematic Moroccan plant pharmacopoeia against the chickpea weevil.