PJB-2020-271
EFFICACY OF PLANT ESSENTIAL OILS AS POST-HARVEST BOTANICAL FUNGICIDES AGAINST NEWLY REPORTED FUNGAL PATHOGEN (ALTERNARIA ALTERNATA) CAUSING BUNCH ROT (BR) OF GRAPES IN PAKISTAN
Salman Ghuffar
Abstract
Alternaria alternata (Fries) Keissler, is one of the major fungal pathogens of grapes (Vitis vinefera) responsible for fruit malformation and influences the fruit quality during handling, transportation, and distribution respectively. Several chemicals are being used to control this pathogen, but they have some residual effects on berries. However, due to consumer concerns and increasing demand for safer products, efforts are being made to identify eco-friendly compounds that can extend the shelf life of grapes. Therefore, the current study was performed to investigate the effectiveness of some plant essential oils (EOs) against A. alternata causing bunch rot (BR) of grapes. For this purpose, five Plant essential oils viz. thyme (Thymus vulgare L.), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare L.), garlic (Allium sativum L.), ginger (Zingiber officinale L.) and carum (Carum capticum L.) essential oils at 0.04, 0.06, 0.08 and 0.1% concentrations were evaluated. During in vitro experiments, results illustrated that thyme essential oil at all applied concentrations showed a highly significant reduction of fungal growth. Furthermore, the experiments related to reducing the decay development percentage (DIP) and average weight loss (AWL) of grapes cv. Perlette revealed similar results regarding thyme essential oil efficacy. Thyme EO has not exhibited any phytotoxic effect on the fruit peel. Therefore, after long term and wide-ranging trials thyme essential oil could be recommended as a potential source of eco-friendly botanical fungicide against A. alternata.
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