Essential oils (EOs) are products of plant origin and include mixtures of different chemical compounds. These volatile substances have many interesting properties, including antifungal properties. Fungi may develop under field conditions on crops such as wheat or corn and are able to synthesize mycotoxins, which adversely affect livestock and human health. In the present study, selected EOs were used to inhibit the growth of Fusarium graminearum and F. culmorum and reduce the concentrations of mycotoxins in wheat grain. The EOs significantly inhibited the growth of tested Fusarium species (90.99–99.99%), as determined based on ergosterol quantitative analysis. Only the addition of orange oil to F. culmorum exhibits a different inhibition capacity (68.13%). EO application resulted in a large reduction in zearalenone content (99.08–99.99%); only in the case of orange oil application was the reduction estimated at approximately 68.33%. However, all EOs provided a significant reduction in the concentration levels of group B trichothecenes (94.51–100%). It can be concluded that EOs inhibit the growth of fungi of the genus Fusarium and reduce concentration levels of the mycotoxins zearalenone and group B trichothecenes.

Owing to their rich chemical composition, essential oils (EOs) have many interesting properties, including antimicrobial activities. The presence of Fusarium and their secondary metabolites, mycotoxins, in cereal crops is a serious problem in agriculture, which consequently affects food quality. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of selected EOs on the growth of Fusarium graminearum and F. culmorum and the biosynthesis of mycotoxins in maize seeds. Chromatographic analysis of ergosterol as a fungal growth indicator showed a significant inhibition of Fusarium growth (83.24–99.99%) compared to the control samples, which as a consequence resulted in a reduction in mycotoxin concentrations. The addition of cinnamon, palmarosa, orange, and spearmint EOs was shown to be the most effective in reducing zearalenone concentration (99.10–99.92%). Deoxynivalenol analysis confirmed a very high reduction of this compound at the application all tested EOs (90.69–100%). The obtained results indicated that EOs have a great potential to inhibit growth of Fusarium fungi as well as reduce the concentration of mycotoxins in maize seed.

A new group of quaternary ammonium ionic liquids with azolate (benzotriazolate, 1,2,4-triazolate, 4-nitroimidazolate, 2-methyl-4-nitroimidazolate) anions was prepared and characterized. The synthetic method employed was easy and quick, and required a polar solvent. The obtained ionic liquids were tested as anti-microbial and anti-fungal plant protection agents. Additionally, the surface-active properties and the phytotoxicity of the quaternary ammonium azolates were also studied. These clearly defined ionic liquids were found to be very effective anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agents.

Novel ionic liquids with dual pesticidal function were obtained and characterized in terms of physicochemical properties, biological activity and biodegradability.

Tebuconazole and propiconazole were converted into salts by reaction with inorganic and organic acids. Numerous novel salts were obtained as a result, many of which could be characterized as protic ionic liquids. Their thermal stability and biological activity against fungal species Fusarium culmorum, Microdochium nivale, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea (in concentration range from 10 up to 1000 ppm) were assessed in the framework of this study. The evaluation revealed that high antifungal activity of the synthesized tebuconazole- and propiconazole-based salts, which may be classified as new triazole fungicides, was preserved. Physical properties of the obtained salts have changed significantly, thus creating new application possibilities of known triazole fungicides.

Glechoma hederacea var. longituba is a herbaceous plant from the Lamiaceae family, used in herbal medicine. In this work, we aimed to assess the total phenolic content, antioxidant, antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of extracts obtained from G. hederacea via supercritical dioxide extraction with methanol as a co-solvent under different extraction conditions. The results showed that the activity of the obtained SC-CO₂ extracts is strongly dependent on the extraction temperature. Significantly higher total polyphenol content, as well as antioxidant and antimicrobial activity towards bacteria and yeasts, was observed in the extract obtained at 40 °C, compared to extracts obtained at 50 °C and 60 °C; however, antifungal activity against filamentous fungi was not dependent on the extraction conditions. Antimicrobial activity also depended on the microorganism type. Higher sensitivity was exhibited by Gram-positive bacteria than by Gram-negative bacteria, with S. aureus and P. aeruginosa being the most sensitive species among each group. The most susceptible fungi were Candida albicans and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The antibiofilm activity was differentiated and depended on the extraction conditions, the microorganism and the method of biofilm treatment. All tested extracts inhibited biofilm formation, with the extract obtained at 40 °C showing the highest value, whereas only extract obtained at 60 °C efficiently removed mature biofilm.