Abstract:The objective of this study is to evaluate (in vitro and in vivo) seven plant extracts and their liquid fractions against four Penicillium italicum isolates. The in vitro study revealed that a concentration 520 µg/ml of crude extract of sticky fleabane leaves or cinnamon bark generated maximum percentage inhibition of 54% and 43%, respectively, against tested fungal isolates. A concentration of 130 µg /ml from each extract (except harmal and garlic where, 390 µg/ml were required) caused complete inhibition of fungal growth of isolates Pi.1 and Pi.3 infecting orange fruit. A concentration of 130 µg/ml of nightshade fruit, fenugreek or sticky fleabane extract inhibited completely the growth of isolates Pi.3 and Pi.5 infecting lemon fruits, whereas a concentration of 390 µg/ml was required to inhibit the growth of isolate Pi.1. Methanolic fractions of cinnamon, garlic or sticky fleabane completely inhibited the growth of fungal isolates. The IC 50 values for these fractions were found to be in the range of: 11.2-24; 30.25-31.50; 25.0-36.0 µg/ml, respectively.A concentration 20 µg/ml of cinnamon hexane fraction inhibited the growth of the fungal isolates, with IC 50 values of 13, 13.75, 14 and 13 µg/ml, respectively, obtained against isolates Pi.1, Pi.3, Pi.5 and Pi.6. The nightshade hexane fraction completely inhibited the growth of isolates Pi.1 and Pi.3 with IC 50 values of 80 and 37.5 µg/ml, respectively. Cinnamon aqueous fraction completely inhibited the growth of isolates Pi.1 and Pi.5 (IC 50 were 61.25 and 58.5 µg/ml, respectively).

Abstract:In this study we evaluated "in vitro" the efficacy of six chemical fungicides and their mixtures as a strategy for the control of Penicillium italicum. The antifungal efficacy against four P. italicum isolates of thirty-one concentrations (0.01-3000 µg/ml) of each of the tested fungicides (Vydan, Blin exa, Canvil, Ranvil, Benomyl and Topsin M), in addition to six combined concentrations from each of ten fungicide mixtures were tested using agar well diffusion method. Regression analysis, one way ANOVA, and Post Hoc Multiple comparisons were carried out to test the significance of these treatments. Our results showed that benomyl completely inhibited the growth of tested isolates (Pi.1; Pi.3; Pi.5; and Pi.6) with MIC values of: 1000; 300; 150 and 40 µg/ml respectively. Canvil as compared to Blin exa, Ranvil and Vydan (no complete inhibition) showed high efficacy against isolates Pi.1 and Pi.5 (MIC values of 5 and 25 µg/ml respectively). The mixtures of Blin exa/Vydan and Topsin M/Canvil were the only mixtures that generated synergistic effects against tested isolates at all tested concentrations. The above mentioned mixtures showed at the first four tested combined concentrations (50:50, 100:100, 100:500 and 500:1000 µg/ml) either the largest inhibition zones (in the range of 47±1.40 mm to 51±1.49 mm) or complete inhibition of fungal growth at the last two (1000:1000 and 1000:2000 µg/ml) combined concentrations. The mixtures of Blin exa/Canvil and Blin exa/Ranvil as compared to the effect of each as singles showed additive effects against tested isolates. The mixtures of Benomyl/Vydan; Benomyl/Ranvil; Benomyl/Blin exa; Topsin/Vydan and Topsin/Blin exa (i.e. mixture of benzimidazole and DMI members)all generated antagonistic effects against tested isolates.