Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 1, 2026
12:32
Colletotrichum fioriniae Development in Water and Chloroform-based Blueberry and Cranberry Floral Extracts
Published on: April 12, 2019
7.9K
Seaweed Extracts to Control Postharvest Phytopathogenic Fungi in Rocha Pear
Eloísa Toledo1, Carina Félix1, Tânia F L Vicente1,2
1MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre & ARNET-Aquatic Research Network Associated Laboratory, ESTM, Polytechnic of Leiria, 2520-641 Peniche, Portugal.
Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland)
|February 25, 2023
Summary
Seaweed extracts show promise in controlling postharvest fungal diseases in Rocha pears. This research offers sustainable, eco-friendly solutions to protect fruit crops from fungal infections.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Agricultural Science
- Mycology
Background:
- Fungal infections cause significant postharvest losses in the fruit industry, impacting agricultural sustainability.
- Seaweeds possess known antimicrobial properties, offering potential for natural, eco-friendly crop protection solutions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of seaweed extracts against key postharvest fungal pathogens affecting Rocha pears.
- To identify sustainable and safe alternatives to conventional fungicides for agricultural applications.
Main Methods:
- In vitro testing of five different seaweed extracts (Asparagopsis armata, Codium sp., Fucus vesiculosus, Sargassum muticum) against mycelial growth and spore germination of Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum, and Penicillium expansum.
- In vivo evaluation of aqueous seaweed extracts against B. cinerea and F. oxysporum on Rocha pears.
Main Results:
- Asparagopsis armata extracts (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanolic) demonstrated superior in vitro inhibition against B. cinerea, F. oxysporum, and P. expansum.
- Sargassum muticum aqueous extract showed promising in vivo results in controlling B. cinerea in Rocha pears.
Conclusions:
- Seaweed extracts, particularly from A. armata and S. muticum, offer a viable natural solution for managing postharvest fungal diseases in fruits.
- This study supports the development of a sustainable bioeconomy by utilizing marine resources for agricultural disease management.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Red Algae
Red algae, also known as rhodophytes, are primarily found in marine environments, though some species inhabit freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. These organisms exist in both unicellular and multicellular forms, with some multicellular varieties reaching macroscopic sizes.As phototrophic organisms, red algae contain chlorophyll a; however, their chloroplasts lack chlorophyll b. Instead, they possess phycobiliproteins, which serve as major light-harvesting pigments, similar to those found in...
01:26Methods of Controlling Food Spoilage
Food spoilage is caused by microbial growth or by chemical and physical changes, all of which affect the taste, texture, and safety of food.Temperature-Based PreservationRefrigeration at 0–4 °C slows microbial growth and enzyme activity, making it ideal for short-term storage. However, certain spoilage organisms—such as psychrotrophs like Listeria monocytogenes—can still proliferate at these temperatures. Freezing below -18 °C further slows biological processes by forming ice crystals, which...