Antifungal Potency of Some Essential Oils in Control of Postharvest Decay of Strawberry Caused byBotrytis cinerea, Rhizopus stoloniferandAspergillus niger

Abstract

The essential oils from Mentha piperita, Lavandula angustifolia, Foeniculum vulgare and Cuminum cyminum were characterized and tested against three common postharvest fungi rot in strawberry fruits. Menthol (36.2 %) and menthone (32.4 %) in M. piperita and linalool (49.2 %) and lavandulyl acetate (12.3 %) in L. angustifolia oils were characterized as major components. The high proportion of trans-anethole (75.8 %) was detected in F. vulgare oil and γ-terpinene (29.2 %) and β-pinene (20.1%) were the principal constituents in C. cyminum oil. The in vitro experiment of four essential oils exhibited antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea, Rhizopus stolonifer and Aspergillus niger. The incorporation of 750µl.l -1 from C. cyminum oils to PDA medium was more active than others and completely inhibit growth of B. cinerea, R. stolonifer and A. niger. The minimum decay incidence was achieved, when fruits dipped or sprayed with M. piperita essential oil, which was more effective than chemical treatments with Tiabandazol. The present study suggests that the use of essential oil especially M. piperita may be a useful alternative to the use of synthetic fungicides.

Medicinal plants with antimicrobial activities (part 2): Plant based review

“…The incorporation of 750 μl/1 from Cuminum cyminum oils to PDA medium was completely inhibited the growth of B. cinerea, R. stolonifer and A. niger [204].…”

Carvacrol and eugenol effectively inhibitRhizopus stoloniferand control postharvest soft rot decay in peaches

“…Several EOs have been reported to control R. stolonifer , such as lemongrass oil, origanum oil and peppermint oil and the antifungal activities depend on the main antimicrobial components (Hadian et al . ; Dos Santos et al . ).…”

“…Several EOs have been reported to control R. stolonifer, such as lemongrass oil, origanum oil and peppermint oil and the antifungal activities depend on the main antimicrobial components (Hadian et al 2008;Dos Santos et al 2012). Carvacrol (5-isopropyl-2-methylphenol), a natural aromatic monoterpenic phenol compound, is the principal active component extracted from oregano and savory oils and widely used in anti-micro-organism and clinical medicine (Margherita et al 2013).…”

Effect of NaCl and iron oxide nanoparticles on Mentha piperita essential oil composition

“…Studies have confirmed that this compound has high antifungal as well as antibacterial potential and is important in the scents and essences industry (Souza et al 1991). Some investigators found that its antifungal activity is comparable to that of synthetic fungicides (Farkas et al 2003, Hadian et al 2008. Moraes (2000) believed that for these reasons, the essential oil of M. piperita ranks high in terms of total sales volume.…”