Antifungal effects of metalonic sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) essential oil on Schizothorax zarudnyi eggs

The use of chemical materials such as malachite green to disinfect fish eggs is banned in many countries due to its reversed environmental effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of metalonic sumac extract as antifungal agent on eggs of Schizothorax zarudnyi during the incubation period and to compare its effects with malachite green. 24 hours after fertilization, eggs were treated with four concentration of Methanolic sumac extrat (500, 750, 1000, 1250 mg/L) using static bath method every 12 h for 20 min and 0.1 mg/L malachite green using the same method every 12 h for 6 min. There was also a control group with no treatment to better analysis. The results showed that the maximum and minimum fungal infection was observed respectively in control group with %20.23±0.51 and the samples treated with 1250 mg/L sumac extraction with %0.91±0.51. Furthermore, no significant differences in fungal infection, fertilization and survival rate were found among treated and untreated eggs (p>0.05). Since no apparent deformities and abnormalities were observed in hatched larvae, suggested sumac extract with 500 mg/L concentration, as an environmental friendly matter, can be used for disinfection of S. zarudnyi eggs during incubation period.