First Isolation of Fusarium foetens from coriander in Palestine and preliminary evaluation of essential oils for its control

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.), a widely cultivated herb valued for its culinary and medicinal uses, is increasingly threatened by soil-borne fungal pathogens. During a field survey in Al-Beqai’a, Tubas district (Palestine) in spring 2024, coriander plants exhibited symptoms of yellowing, wilting, and damping-off. Morphological examination and molecular identification using ITS1 and ITS4 primers confirmed Fusarium foetens as the causal agent, marking the first report of this pathogen on coriander in Palestine. Pathogenicity was validated through inoculation trials fulfilling Koch’s postulates. Given the limitations of chemical fungicides, twelve essential oils (EOs) were evaluated for antifungal activity against F. foetens. Disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays revealed that wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum) and pine (Pinus sylvestris) EOs exhibited the most potent inhibitory effects, both having MIC values of 25 µg/mL. The antifungal efficacy of these EOs is likely attributed to their phenolic and terpene-rich composition, offering a promising, eco-friendly alternative for disease management. This study underscores the emergence of F. foetens as a phytopathogen of coriander and highlights the potential of EOs in integrated fungal disease control strategies.