Use of Moroccan medicinal plant extracts as botanical fungicide against citrus blue mould

Abstract

Significance and Impact of the Study: This study demonstrates that plant extracts have a high potential to control blue mould of citrus and will provide a starting point for discovering new compounds with better activity than chemical fungicides currently available. Such natural products therefore represent a sustainable alternative to the use of chemical fungicides. AbstractThe aim of this work was to find an alternative to chemical fungicides currently used in the control of postharvest citrus fruit diseases. In this study, we screened eight Moroccan medicinal and aromatic plants extracted with petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol for their anti-fungal activity against Penicillium italicum, the causal agent of citrus blue mould. The anti-fungal activity of these extracts was tested based on the disc diffusion method. Petroleum ether extracts of Inula viscosa, Asteriscus graveolens, Bubonium odorum and Thymus leptobotrys and chloroformic extract of Anvillea radiata revealed the highest significant anti-fungal activity with inhibition zones that ranged between 25Á83 and 28Á33 mm in diameter. In the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) study, we observed that petroleum ether extract of I. viscosa was the most effective extract with both the significantly largest halo (27Á50 mm) and the lowest MIC (1 mg ml À1 ). The most active plant extracts in in vitro studies were tested in vivo, and results indicated that solvent extracts of the selected plant species significantly decreased the incidence and severity of blue mould, after 7 and 10 days of storage at 20°C. In addition, Halimium umbellatum methanol extract and T. leptobotrys petroleum ether extract completely inhibited the development of P. italicum under both storage periods, and no phytotoxic effects were recorded on citrus fruit.

Chemical characterization and antifungal activities of four Thymus species essential oils against postharvest fungal pathogens of citrus

“…In previous studies (Ameziane et al, 2007;Askarne et al, 2013;Karim et al, 2015), our research team evaluated the in vitro and in vivo antifungal activities of aqueous and organic extracts from many Moroccan plant species against the main fungal pathogens of citrus. However, little reports exist on the use of EOs to reduce postharvest fungal development.…”

Suppression of Rust and Brown Eye Spot Diseases on Coffee by Phosphites and By‐products of Coffee and Citrus Industries

“…Many examples can be given on studies testing the effect of plant extracts and oils on plant diseases, such as citrus blue mould (Askarne et al. ) and tomato damping‐off (Al‐Rahmah et al. ).…”

“…Along with phosphites, plant extracts and oils have demonstrated potential for controlling plant diseases and induce resistance in plants (Carvalho et al 2012). Many examples can be given on studies testing the effect of plant extracts and oils on plant diseases, such as citrus blue mould (Askarne et al 2013) and tomato damping-off (Al-Rahmah et al 2013). In vitro studies testing the direct effects of plant extracts and oils on pathogens have been performed, for instance, on Phytophthora infestans (Yanar et al 2011 Plant-processing industries generate a large amount of plant by-products which could also be tested and used for developing products for the control of plant disease, as shown by few studies performed so far.…”

The use of medicinal herbs in gynecological and pregnancy-related disorders by Jordanian women: a review of folkloric practice vs. evidence-based pharmacology

“…Antioxidative, fungicidal and phytoxic effects (Andolfi et al 2013;Askarne et al 2013;Gökbulut et al 2013). Selecive antiproliferative and proapoptotic capacity in breast cancer cells; cytotoxic and genotoxic effect in A. cepa.…”