Abstract
Abstract Botrytis cinerea ( B . cinerea ) is a phytopathogenic fungus causing gray mold on postharvest apples. Fungicide application remains a conventional strategy against this pathogen. However, due to the impact of these chemical agents on human health and environment, new alternatives and safe management strategies are currently more preferred by farmers. Thanks to their potential antifungal effect against B . cinerea , plant extracts and essential oils (EOs) constitute promising natural solutions. This review aims to compile and analyze, for the first time, several studies testing the antifungal activity of plant extracts and EOs against B . cinerea both in vitro and in vivo on apples, with the goal of highlighting their importance and encouraging their use by farmers. Furthermore, the mechanisms of action are discussed. Additionally, the challenges related to practical applications and formulation stability are addressed. Overall, our review underscores the antifungal potential of different extracts and EOs against B . cinerea . Indeed, in vitro experiments showed that Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Satureja hortensis extracts induced 100% inhibition of mycelial growth, at the concentrations of 0.08 and 10%, respectively. Moreover, EO of Pelargonium graveolens (0.0003%) induced a total inhibition of B . cinerea mycelial growth using volatile activity assay. Additionally, in vivo assays revealed that Azadirachta indica extract resulted in up to 90% decrease in disease severity at the concentration of 25%. Besides, Eugenia caryophylata EO was also efficient in the in vivo test, showing 95% reduction in disease incidence at the concentration of 0.2%. Further studies are needed to prove the in vivo efficiency of all tested plant extracts and EOs. Furthermore, multi-target antifungal strategies, such as the combination of plant extracts and EOs with other biocontrol agents should also be developed in order to overcome the problem of fungal resistance to these natural compounds.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Cinnamomum zeylanicum extract inhibited Botrytis mycelial growth completely in vitro at 0.08%.
- Taxon
- apples
Malus domesticat0 - Treatment
- Cinnamomum zeylanicume0
- Interactor
- B . cinerea
Botrytis cinereae1pathogen - Outcome
- B . cinerea mycelial growthe1
- Direction
- inhibitione0
- Value
- 100%e0
- Qualifier
- 0.08e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Satureja hortensis extracts induced 100% inhibition of mycelial growth, at the concentrations of 0.08 and 10%, respectively”
e1“B . cinerea mycelial growth”
t0“apples”
Claim · model-written summary
Satureja hortensis extract inhibited Botrytis mycelial growth completely in vitro at 10%.
- Taxon
- applesMalus domesticat0
- Treatment
- Satureja hortensise0
- Interactor
- B . cinereaBotrytis cinereae1pathogen
- Outcome
- B . cinerea mycelial growthe1
- Direction
- inhibitione0
- Value
- 100%e0
- Qualifier
- 10%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Satureja hortensis extracts induced 100% inhibition of mycelial growth, at the concentrations of 0.08 and 10%, respectively”
e1“B . cinerea mycelial growth”
t0“apples”
Claim · model-written summary
Pelargonium graveolens essential oil completely inhibited Botrytis mycelial growth at 0.0003% in a volatile assay.
- Taxon
- applesMalus domesticat0
- Treatment
- EO of Pelargonium graveolens (0.0003%)e0
- Interactor
- B . cinereaBotrytis cinereae0pathogen
- Outcome
- B . cinerea mycelial growthe0
- Direction
- total inhibitione0
- Value
- 0.0003%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“EO of Pelargonium graveolens (0.0003%) induced a total inhibition of B . cinerea mycelial growth using volatile activity assay”
t0“apples”
Claim · model-written summary
Azadirachta indica extract reduced apple disease severity by up to 90% at 25% in vivo.
- Taxon
- applesMalus domesticat0
- Treatment
- Azadirachta indica extracte0
- Interactor
- B . cinereaBotrytis cinereae1pathogen
- Outcome
- disease severitye0
- Direction
- decreasee0
- Value
- up to 90%e0
- Qualifier
- 25%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Azadirachta indica extract resulted in up to 90% decrease in disease severity at the concentration of 25%”
e1“Botrytis cinerea ( B . cinerea )”
t0“apples”
Claim · model-written summary
Eugenia caryophylata essential oil reduced apple disease incidence by 95% at 0.2% in vivo.
- Taxon
- applesMalus domesticat0
- Treatment
- Eugenia caryophylata EOe0
- Interactor
- B . cinereaBotrytis cinereae1pathogen
- Outcome
- disease incidencee0
- Direction
- reductione0
- Value
- 95%e0
- Qualifier
- 0.2%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Eugenia caryophylata EO was also efficient in the in vivo test, showing 95% reduction in disease incidence at the concentration of 0.2%”
e1“Botrytis cinerea ( B . cinerea )”
t0“apples”
Claim · model-written summary
The review calls for further in vivo tests of all tested extracts and oils.
- Taxon
- applesMalus domesticat0
- Outcome
- prove the in vivo efficiency of all tested plant extracts and EOse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Further studies are needed to prove the in vivo efficiency of all tested plant extracts and EOs”
t0“apples”
Claim · model-written summary
The review recommends developing combined extracts, oils, and biocontrol agents to overcome fungal resistance.
- Taxon
- applesMalus domesticat0
- Outcome
- multi-target antifungal strategiese0
- Qualifier
- overcome the problem of fungal resistancee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“multi-target antifungal strategies, such as the combination of plant extracts and EOs with other biocontrol agents should also be developed in order to overcome the problem of fungal resistance to these natural compounds”
t0“apples”