Study the influence of Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) extract on fungal infection control of some crop seeds during germination stage

Fungal infection during germination of crop seeds of common problem in agriculture and invtro seed germination studies. In order to evaluation of antifungal effects of thyme (Thymus vulgaris) extract on wheat , maize, soybean and cumin seeds during germination stage an experiment was conducted in Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran during 2012. The thyme shoot aqueous extract was prepared. Once every two days, this herb extract at six concentrations (0 as control 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50%) was added to the seed containing Petri Dishes with daily watering. The result showed that thyme extract has antifungal properties. With increasing of extract saprophytic fungi activity was significantly decreased during germination of studied seeds. However, at high concentrations of extract (more than 40%) was observed significant decrease in germination percentage. Key word: Fungal infection, thyme, germination, extract.