Abstract
This study was carried out to determine the potential of using the plant powder and essential oil of Artemisia monosperma to control root rot disease caused by Fusarium solani and to investigate their influence on soil fungal flora population. The effect of the essential oil on dry weight and enzymes production of the fungus was investigated in vitro. Psium sativum seeds were treated with different concentrations of essential oil (0.25, 0.5, and 1.0%) before sowing, while the plant powder was mixed with the soil at 5, 10, 20 gms. The results obtained from the green house application of bioagent indicated that soaking seeds in different concentrations of essential oil from 0.25 to 1.0% (for 60 minutes) were significantly reduced the percentage of damping off and root rot when compared with control (pathogen only). In vitro, essential oil of Artemisia monosperma was found to be very toxic to the root-rot pathogens. The concentration of 1.0% was completely prevented the enzyme production, completely inhibited the dry weight of the fungus also significantly decreased the population of fungal flora in the soil as compared with control. The plant powder of Artemisia monosperma, when mixed with the soil, was significantly reduced the extent of root rot disease compared to the control. Untreated seeds grown in the infested soil (positive control) with F. solani showed higher percentage of infection. The plants grown under this treatment were significantly shorter than the corresponding figures of the other treatments. Soil mixed with plant powder or seeds treated with essential oil had a significant lower percentage of infection, significantly longer in height and better plant growth parameters.

Key words: Artemisia monosperma, essential oil, plant powder, Fusarium solani, root rot disease.