Effect of volatile substances released fromOriganum majorana andOcimum basilicum on the rhizosphere and phyllosphere fungi ofPhaseolus vulgaris

Differences were found in the counts and occurrence of fungi in the phyllosphere and thizosphere of two representatives of the Lamiacea family,Origanum majorana andOcimum basilicum, and in the phyllosphere and rhizosphere ofPhaseolus vulgaris growing separately or in coenosis withO. majorana orO. basilicum. Both the volatile substances released from ground leaves of the two latter pantl species and the root exudates affected considerably spore germination of isolated phylospheric and rhizospheric fungi. The results indicated a possible role of root exudates and volatile substances released from leaves in colonization of rhizosphere and/or phyllosphere by fungi, especially in associations of various plants.