Control of postharvest diseases caused by Penicillium spp. with myrtle leaf phenolic extracts: in vitro and in vivo study on mandarin fruit during storage
- 10 January 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture
- Vol. 101 (10), 4229-4240
- https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.11062
Abstract
BACKGROUND In postharvest handling of horticultural commodities, plant extracts with fungicidal activity are a valid alternative to synthetic fungicides. Fungicidal activity of myrtle leaf extracts from eight cultivars was studied in vitro against Penicillium digitatum, Penicillium italicum and Penicillium expansum and on artificially inoculated mandarins with green and blue moulds before storage for 12 d at 20 °C and 90% RH. RESULTS Hydroxybenzoic acids, hydrolysable tannins, and flavonols were identified by HPLC. Despite sharing the same phenolic profile, extracts of eight myrtle cultivars significantly differed for phenolics’ concentrations. Hydrolysable tannins are the principal subclass representing nearly 44.9% of the total polyphenols, whereas myricitrin was the most abundant flavonol in all cultivars. Myrtle extracts strongly inhibited conidial germination of the pathogens tested, although the greatest efficacy was observed against P. digitatum. At the concentration of 20 g L‐1, all the extracts completely inhibited fungi growth; only ‘Angela’, ‘Tonina’ and ‘Grazia’ extracts were effective at lower concentrations (15 g L‐1). On inoculated fruit, myrtle extracts significantly controlled rot development. As preventive treatment ‘Ilaria’ and ‘Maria Rita’ extracts significantly reduced the rate of fruit with green mould decay lesions. When applied as a curative treatment, all the exacts decreased decay incidence. Against P. italicum, all the extracts applied as preventive treatment effectively controlled decay, while as curative treatment some of the extracts were not effective. All the extracts reduced the size of the infected areas. CONCLUSION The results propose myrtle extracts as a possible natural alternative to synthetic fungicides.Keywords
Funding Information
- Università degli Studi di Sassari
- Fondazione di Sardegna
This publication has 43 references indexed in Scilit:
- Non-chemical treatments for preventing the postharvest fungal rotting of citrus caused by Penicillium digitatum (green mold) and Penicillium italicum (blue mold)Trends in Food Science & Technology, 2019
- GRAS, plant- and animal-derived compounds as alternatives to conventional fungicides for the control of postharvest diseases of fresh horticultural producePostharvest Biology and Technology, 2016
- In vitro Antifungal Activity and Mechanism of Action of Tea Polyphenols and Tea Saponin against Rhizopus stoloniferMicrobial Physiology, 2015
- Control of citrus molds using bioactive coatings incorporated with fungal chitosan/plant extracts compositeJournal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 2015
- In vivo application of garlic extracts in combination with clove oil to prevent postharvest decay caused by Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium expansum and Neofabraea alba on applesPostharvest Biology and Technology, 2015
- Effectiveness of Phenolic Compounds against Citrus Green MouldMolecules, 2014
- In vitro and in vivo antifungal activity of several Moroccan plants against Penicillium italicum, the causal agent of citrus blue moldCrop Protection, 2012
- Antifungal activity of Moroccan plants against citrus fruit pathogensAgronomy for Sustainable Development, 2007
- Exploitation of natural products as an alternative strategy to control postharvest fungal rotting of fruit and vegetablesPostharvest Biology and Technology, 2004
- Seasonal evaluation of the postharvest fungicidal activity of powders and extracts of huamuchil (Pithecellobium dulce): action against Botrytris cinerea, Penicillium digitatum and Rhizopus stolonifer of strawberry fruitPostharvest Biology and Technology, 2003