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.