Allium sativum produces terpenes with fungistatic properties in response to infection with Sclerotium cepivorum

The terpene profile in different tissues of in vitro garlic plants infected with Sclerotium cepivorum was investigated. The major terpenes synthesized by the garlic plants were nerolidol and terpinolene, which showed antifungal activity as was assessed in vitro by mycelium growth inhibition and reduction of sclerotia production.