Potential of a Small Molecule Carvacrol in Management of Vegetable Diseases

Carvacrol, a plant-derived volatile small molecule, is effective against various agents that can cause damage to humans, the food processing industry, and plants, and is considered a safe substance for human consumption. In this short communication, previous studies on the effectiveness of carvacrol against various agents, particularly plant pathogens and their associated mechanisms are described. In our study, carvacrol was found to be effective on media against several soilborne pathogens and in planta against three foliar pathogens (Xanthomonas perforans, Alternaria tomatophila, and Podosphaeraxanthii) of important vegetable crops in south Florida of the United States. Current research findings indicated that the effectiveness of carvacrol against various plant pathogens tested was associated with its direct bactericidal/fungicidal effect, which was affected greatly by its volatility. Development of new formulations to overcome the volatility and to prolong the effectiveness of carvacrol was also presented. Our studies on carvacrol suggested that, with advanced development of new formulations, carvacrol could be used as a promising tool in the integrated pest management for bacterial, fungal, and viral pathogens of important vegetable crops in Florida, the USA, and the world.