Antifungal Activity and Chemical Composition of Seven Essential Oils to Control the Main Seedborne Fungi of Cucurbits
Open Access
- 21 January 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by MDPI AG in Antibiotics
- Vol. 10 (2), 104
- https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10020104
Abstract
Essential oils represent novel alternatives to application of synthetic fungicides to control against seedborne pathogens. This study investigated seven essential oils for in vitro growth inhibition of the main seedborne pathogens of cucurbits. Cymbopogon citratus essential oil completely inhibited mycelial growth of Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum and Alternaria alternata at 0.6 and 0.9 mg/mL, respectively. At 1 mg/mL, Lavandula dentata, Lavandula hybrida, Melaleuca alternifolia, Laurus nobilis, and two Origanum majorana essential oils inhibited mycelia growth of A. alternata by 54%, 71%, 68%, 36%, 90%, and 74%, respectively. S. cucurbitacearum mycelia growth was more sensitive to Lavandula essential oils, with inhibition of ~74% at 1 mg/mL. To determine the main compounds in these essential oils that might be responsible for this antifungal activity, they were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). C. citratus essential oil showed cirtal as its main constituent, while L. dentata and L. nobilis essential oils showed eucalyptol. The M. alternifolia and two O. majorana essential oils had terpinen-4-ol as the major constituent, while for L. hybrida essential oil, this was linalool. Thus, in vitro, these essential oils can inhibit the main seedborne fungi of cucurbits, with future in vivo studies now needed to confirm these activities.Keywords
This publication has 59 references indexed in Scilit:
- Activity of Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia, Cheel) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris, Linnaeus.) Essential Oils against Some Pathogenic Seed Borne FungiJournal of Essential Oil Research, 2011
- Atividades antioxidante e fungitóxica do óleo essencial de capim-limão e do citralRevista Ciência Agronômica, 2011
- Alternaria cucumerinacausing leaf spot of pumpkin newly reported in North Caucasus (Russia)New Disease Reports, 2011
- The use of essential oils for postharvest decay control. A review.Flavour and Fragrance Journal, 2010
- Combined effects of postharvest heat treatment and chitosan coating on quality of fresh‐cut mangoes (Mangifera indica L.)International Journal of Food Science & Technology, 2010
- Evaluation of Essential Oils and Their Components for Broad-Spectrum Antifungal Activity and Control of Late Leaf Spot and Crown Rot Diseases in PeanutPlant Disease, 2007
- In vitro Determination of Fusarium spp. Infection on Watermelon Seeds and their LocalizationPlant Pathology Journal, 2006
- Effect of Fungicides on in vitro Infestation Level of Radish, Carrot and Pepper SeedsPlant Pathology Journal, 2006
- Antifungal Activity of Leaf Extracts and Essential Oils of some Medicinal Plants against Didymella bryoniaeJournal of Phytopathology, 2000
- Effect of Protectant Fungicide Application Schedules on Gummy Stem Blight Epidemics and Marketable Yield of WatermelonPlant Disease, 2000