Selection and Evaluation of Alternative to Synthetic Fungicides for the Control of Postharvest Citru
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- Category: Biological Sciences
- Published: Sunday, 06 May 2012 03:00
- Written by Rasha A. Al-Najar
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Abstract
Selection and Evaluation of Alternatives to Synthetic Fungicides for the Control of Postharvest Citrus Fruits Rot Caused by
Penicillium italicum (blue mold) in Jordan.
Rasha A. Al-Najar
Mu'tah University, 2007
The aim of this research work is to evaluate (in vitro and in vivo) alternative methods for the control of post harvest decay of citrus fruits caused by wild-type strains of the fungus Penicillium italicum. This was achieved through strategies that implement the use of six chemical fungicides and seven traditional or natural plant crude extracts and their fractions. The obtained results indicated that the fungicide Benomyl was serving as the most successful inhibitory agent that worked (in vitro and in vivo) against the four (I.1, I.3, I.5, and I.6) tested strains, where the MICs which resulted in total inhibition of fungal growth were 1000 µg/ml, 300 µg/ml, 150 µg/ml, and 40 µg/ml respectively. The combination of Blin exa/Vydan and Topsin M/Canvil were the best combinations of fungicides that have worked against P. italicum strains at all used concentrations, where such combinations of fungicides had lead to complete inhibition of fungal growth at combined concentrations of 1000:1000 and 1000:2000 µg/ml. All tested fungicides combinations were highly effective in completely inhibiting fungal growth on orange fruits. The combinations of Vydan/Canvil, Topsin M/Blin exa and Benomyl/Vydan had shown such inhibitory activity against strain I.6 and I.1 which infects lemon fruits. Results of decay control chemicals indicated that sodium benzoate was serving as a strong inhibitory agent against all tested strains of P. italicum, where a range of concentrations from 4 mM up to 100 mM had lead to complete inhibition of hyphal growth. The crude extract of sticky fleabane in addition to its methanolic fraction were serving as the most powerful inhibitory agent against the four in vitro tested P. italicum strains. Cinnamon crude extract as well as the methanolic, hexane and aqueous fractions had generated complete inhibition of fungal growth and by this cinnamon is ranked first in terms of antifungal activity. Garlic crude extract does not lead to complete inhibition of P. italicum growth (in vitro) as compared to its antifungal activity in the in vivo tests as well as that generated by the methanolic fraction which generates complete inhibition of fungal growth (in vitro).