Ten essential oils extracted from species of Piper collected in the Amazon region were evaluated in vitro according to their effectiveness in inhibiting mycelial growth and basidiospore germination of Crinipellis perniciosa and in inhibiting mycelial growth of Phytophthora palmivora and P. capsici. The essential oils of P. callosum, P. marginatum var. anisatum and P. enckea were most effective, causing 100% inhibition of the three fungi in concentrations of 0.75µL/mL and 1.0µl/mL. For basidiospore germination, the oil of P. dilatatum was the best at 0.4µL/mL concentration, followed by the oils of P. callosum and P. marginatum var. anisatum at 0.5µL/mL.
Witches broom disease; fruit pod rot; cocoa; control
