No abstract

Hydrodistillation of Brazilian basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) yielded 0.4% of essential oil (EO), with activity against eight important postharvest deteriorating fungi. The crude EO completely inhibited the radial growth of the fungi at a concentration of 0.1%. Thirty-two components were identified in crude EO by Kováts retention index, mass spectrometry and standards. Preparative TLC-bioautography of the crude EO presented only one band with an antifungal activity greater than that of crude EO with the following chemical composition (%): 1,8-cineole (6.2), linalool (36.3), camphor (9.7), α-terpineol (3.8), methyl chavicol (9.1) and eugenol (34.9). Based on these results, these compounds were considered to be the major fungitoxic components. This is the first study in the literature that presents data obtained simultaneously on the activity of crude basil EO against eight important post-harvest deteriorating fungi, its unequivocal chemical identification and quantification (area %).

High productivity of agriculture goods is closely associated with the use of fungicides to reduce losses caused by the fungal plant diseases. However, appearance of resistant population of pathogens to several commercial fungicides is a common phenomenon that requires control. There is, therefore, need for developing novel fungicide compounds that are environmentally safe with low toxicity to wild life and humans. In this study novel organotin(IV) derivatives of bis(pyrimidin-2-ylthio)methane (ptm), bis(pyrimidin-2-ylthio)ethane (pte) and bis(pyrimidin-2-ylthio)hexane (pth) were tested against phytopathogens to evaluate their activity as potential fungicides. The bis(pyrimidin-2-ylthio)alkanes were not active in contrast with the organotin(IV) derivatives. The 5-coordinate triphenyltin(IV) derivatives were the most active compounds in a wide range of concentration. This study shows that the microorganisms were susceptible to the acid character of the organotin(IV) precursors.