The fungicidal property of Acorus gramineus rhizome-derived materials against Botrytis cineria, Erysiphe graminis, Phytophthora infestans, Puccinia recondita, Pyricularia grisea, and Rhizoctonia solani was tested using a whole plant method in vivo, and was compared with a synthetic fungicide and seven commercially available A. gramineus rhizome-derived components. The responses varied according to the plant pathogen tested. At 2000 mg/l, the hexane fraction of A. gramineus rhizomes showed strong fungicidal activities against R. solani and P. infestans. The results indicated at least one of the fungicidal actions of alpha-asarone and asaronaldehyde derived from A. gramineus rhizomes. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.