# The Fungicidal Effect of Essential Oils of Fennel and Hops against Fusarium Disease of Pea
## 1 Introduction
Recent research has demonstrated the fungistic effect of rossmarinus (_Rosmarinus officinalis_ L.) and grain mint (_Mentha arveensis_ L.) essential oils on _Fusarium_ fungi [27], the antifungal activity of clove essential oil (_Syzygium aromaticum_ (L.) [PERSON] and [PERSON]) against _F. oxysporum_ f. sp. _radicis lycopercisi, F. redolens_ and _F. commune_[28; 29], the antifungal activity of essential oils from the stems/leaves and flowers of French lavender (_Lavandula stoechas_ L.) against _F. oxysporum_[30] and the antifungal potential of myrrh essential oil (_Comniophora molmol_ (Engl.) Engl. [PERSON]) against _F. solani, F. oxysporum, Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus flavus_ and _Cladosporium_ sp. [31]. [PERSON] et al. [32] found that peppermint (_Mentha \(\times\) piperita_ L.), savoury (_Satureja khuizstanica_ [PERSON]), thymme (_Thymus daenensis_ [PERSON]), cinnamon (_Cinnamomum verum_ [PERSON]. [PERSON], _Cinnamomum zeylanicum_ [PERSON]), true lavender (_Lavandula angustifolia_ [PERSON]), eucalyptus (_Eucalyptus globulus_ [PERSON]), myrtle (_Mytrus communuis_ L.) and tea tree essential oils are effective inhibitors of _F. solani_ and _Pltytophthora palmivora_. Hops (_Humulus lupulus_ L., Cannabaceae) and fennel (_Foeniculum vulgare_ Mill., Apiaceae/Umbelliferae) are valuable sources of biologically active compounds, including essential oils. Hops have long been used in traditional medicine [33] and in beer brewing [34]. The female flowers of hop plants (_Lupuli flos_) are rich in secondary plant metabolites, resins (\(\alpha\)- and \(\beta\)-acids) and essential oils [35]. [PERSON] [36] demonstrated _in vitro_ the fungistatic and fungicidal (dose-dependent) effects of ethanol extracts from hop flowers on the mycelial growth of five strains of the major food spoilage moulds. Fennel is an aromatic plant used for both culinary and medicinal purposes [37]. Its biological activity can be attributed to the presence of active compounds in the seeds (_Foenticuli fructus_), including essential oils containing trans-anethole, fenchone and estragole [38]. [PERSON] et al. [39] described the high antimicrobial potential of crude fennel extracts against G(\(-\)) and G(+) bacteria and against the fungi _Aspergillus versicolor_, _Aspergillus fumigatus_ and _Penicillium camemberti_. Fennel essential oil (FEO) was also characterised by strong antifungal activity against _Cladosporium cladosporioides_ and _Puccinia helianthi_ plant pathogens as well as _Trichophyto mentagrophyytes_ dermatophytes [39]. According to [PERSON] et al. [40], FEO has potent antidermatophytic activity and is more effective than the widely used fluconazole and amphotericin B. [PERSON] et al. [41] found that FEO inhibits grey mould rot of tomato (_Lycoperscon esculentum_ L.) caused by _B. cinerea_. According to [PERSON] et al. [25], FEO reduces the content of ergosterol, a characteristic component of fungal cell walls, and significantly lowers the concentrations of zearalenone and group B trichothecenes (mycotoxins). The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal properties of essential oils from fennel fruits and female hop flowers against selected pathogens of pea under _in vitro_ conditions and against Fusarium wilt disease of pea plants artificially inoculated with _F. culmorum_ spores (isolated in a previous study) in a pot experiment.