Antifungal Potential of Phytochemicals against Mauginiella scaettae, the Plant Pathogen Causing Inflorescence Rot of Date Palm

Abstract

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) inflorescence rot caused by Mauginiella scaettae poses a serious threat to date palm in Morocco. The present study aims to determine the antifungal activity of five plant extracts against M. scaettae, including Acacia cyanophylla, Cupressus atlantica, Eucalyptus torquata, Nerium oleander, and Schinus molle and link this effect to their content in phenolics and flavonoids, as well as their antioxidant properties. Plant extracts exhibited significant discrepancies regarding their antifungal activity ( p < 0.05 ). The extracts of E. torquata and C. atlantica had the strongest and dose-dependent manner inhibitory effect against mycelial growth and spore germination. E. torquata and S. molle caused the greatest sporulation reductions of about 88.05% and 36.11%, respectively. In addition, there were significant differences among the examined plant extracts with respect to their total polyphenols (14.52–76.68 mg GAE/g DW), flavonoids (8.75–57.78 g RE/100 g DW), and antioxidant properties as measured by TEAC (74.77–391.23 mmol TE/g DW) and FRAP assays (87.18–474.04 mmol TE/g DW). Strong correlations were found between phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity suggesting that polyphenols play a key role in the observed antioxidant and antifungal activities.

Antifungal Activity of Leaf Extract of Alchornea cordifolia Against Aspergillus flavus the causal Agent of Yam Tuber Rot

“…Results of in vitro antifungal activity studies of A. cordifolia indicated that A. cordifolia exhibited appreciable fungitoxic activity against A. flavus. In a similar evaluation, Shinus mole extracts significantly retarded sporulation of Manginiella scaettae causal agent of rot of inflorescence of date palm (Bouhlahi et al 2021). Also, a dosewise inhibition of radial growth, sporulation and stroma production of the rot pathogens Botryodiplodia theobromae, A. niger and M. scattae by extracts of Cassia alata, A. indica, Cupressus Atlanta, Eucalyptus torquata and A. cordifolia in vitro have been variously reported (Wokoma and Anaemena 2003;Tijjani et al 2018;Bouhlahi et al 2021).…”

“…In a similar evaluation, Shinus mole extracts significantly retarded sporulation of Manginiella scaettae causal agent of rot of inflorescence of date palm (Bouhlahi et al 2021). Also, a dosewise inhibition of radial growth, sporulation and stroma production of the rot pathogens Botryodiplodia theobromae, A. niger and M. scattae by extracts of Cassia alata, A. indica, Cupressus Atlanta, Eucalyptus torquata and A. cordifolia in vitro have been variously reported (Wokoma and Anaemena 2003;Tijjani et al 2018;Bouhlahi et al 2021). Findings in this study where different concentrations of methanol leaf extracts of A. cordifolia impeded radial growth and spore germination of A. flavus at varying degrees is consistent with many antimicrobial assays as mentioned above.…”

High Inhibition for a CoII Tetrazole Bi‐pyrazole Dinuclear Complex against Fusarium Oxysporum f. sp. Albedinis

“…[26] For example, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. albedinis (Foa) named as 'Bayoud disease' is a great cause of loss of dates in North Africa, [27,28] thus threatening local economy as well as exportations. A recent prediction anticipate that the bacteria could spread out through Middle Eastern and European countries for the years 2050 and 2100.…”