<i>In vitro</i> testing of New Zealand manuka oil and Lema oil for inhibition of <i>Erwinia amylovora</i>

Abstract

Current tools for the control of fire blight disease of apples caused by Erwinia amylovora have limitations including the increasing pressure by markets against the use of streptomycin Coast Manuka and Coast Lema Oil products have been previously shown to provide control against some bacterial fungal and yeast diseases Experiments were carried out to determine whether either of these products provided control against Erwinia amylovora Coast Lema Oil (05 1 2 3 4 w/v) inhibited E amylovora when added to a bacterial suspension Coast Manuka Oil (04 w/v) failed to inhibit E amylovora when added to the bacterial suspension It was also demonstrated that Coast Lema Oil (05 1 2 3 4 w/v) and Coast Manuka Oil (05 1 2 3 4 w/v) inhibited E amylovora replication when added to agar Filter paper discs soaked in Coast Lema Oil (2 3 4 w/v) caused small inhibition zones around the product when placed directly onto E amylovora Coast Manuka Oil (04 w/v) was unsuccessful in causing inhibition zones around the discs when placed directly onto E amylovora These initial results indicate that Lema oil has the potential to control fire blight in pipfruit trees