Using essential oils to control diseases in strawberries and peaches

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Plant Pathology
• Natural Product Chemistry

Background:

• Strawberry and peach production are economically vital in Brazil, but susceptible to fungal diseases caused by Colletotrichum sp., Botrytis cinerea, and Monilinia fructicola.
• Conventional fungicide use raises consumer concerns and causes environmental issues, necessitating sustainable alternatives.
• Essential oils are being investigated for their potential as eco-friendly disease control agents in agriculture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the fungicidal activity of essential oils from Aloysia citriodora, Cymbopogon winterianus, Lippia alba, and Ocimum americanum.
• To assess their efficacy against Colletotrichum sp., Botrytis cinerea, and Monilinia fructicola in vitro and in post-harvest fruit treatments.
• To determine the potential of these essential oils as natural fungicides for strawberry and peach crops.

Main Methods:

• In vitro experiments were conducted to characterize effective doses of essential oils against target fungi.
• Post-harvest studies on strawberries and peaches determined the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of essential oils.
• Fungal pathogens included Colletotrichum sp., Botrytis cinerea, and Monilinia fructicola.

Main Results:

• All tested essential oils demonstrated significant fungicidal activity in vitro.
• Aloysia citriodora, Lippia alba, and Ocimum americanum oils were effective for post-harvest control of Colletotrichum sp.
• Essential oils showed satisfactory control of Botrytis cinerea on strawberries and high fungitoxicity against Monilinia fructicola on peaches, with A. citriodora being particularly effective.

Conclusions:

• Essential oils from A. citriodora, C. winterianus, L. alba, and O. americanum possess high fungitoxicity against key strawberry and peach pathogens.
• These natural compounds show significant potential for controlling post-harvest diseases in these fruits.
• The findings support the development of essential oil-based formulations as commercial, eco-friendly fungicides.