Use of Cistus aqueous extracts as botanical fungicides in the control of Citrus sour rot

• Published in: Microbial pathogenesis Vol. 104; pp. 263 - 267
• Main Authors: Karim, H., Boubaker, H., Askarne, L., Cherifi, K., Lakhtar, H., Msanda, F., Boudyach, E.H., Ait Ben Aoumar, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2017
• Subjects: Antifungal activity; Cistus - chemistry; Cistus plant aqueous extracts; Citrus - microbiology; Citrus fruit; Fungicides, Industrial - isolation & purification; Fungicides, Industrial - pharmacology; Geotrichum - drug effects; Geotrichum - growth & development; Geotrichum citri-aurantii; Hyphae - drug effects; Hyphae - growth & development; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Plant Diseases - microbiology; Plant Diseases - prevention & control; Plant Extracts - isolation & purification; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Sour rot; Spores, Fungal - drug effects; Spores, Fungal - growth & development; Antifungal activity; Sour rot; Cistus plant aqueous extracts; Geotrichum citri-aurantii; Citrus fruit
• ISSN: 0882-4010; 1096-1208
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2017.01.041

In this work, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo antifungal activity of aqueous extracts obtained from eight Cistus plant species against the development of Geotrichum citri-aurantii, the causal agent of citrus sour rot. The results demonstrate the in vitro effectiveness of all tested Cistus species aqueous extracts against G. citri-aurantii, the inhibition of mycelial growth ranged between 80 and 100%. Furthermore, Cistus aqueous extracts totally inhibited germination of G. citri-aurantii arthrospores at a concentration of 5 mg/mL. Among the plant species tested, C. laurifolius, C. salviifolius, C. monspeliensis, C. ladanifer and C. populifolius displayed the best fungistatic activity since the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was <0.625 mg/mL. Under in vivo conditions, incidence of sour rot was lowered to 8.33% when fruits were treated with aqueous extracts of C. populifolius and C. creticus compared to 100% in the control. Disease severity was lowered to 3.74, 4.47 and 5.13% when fruits were treated with C. creticus, C. ladanifer and C. populifolius aqueous extracts, respectively. Using such these biopesticides in a replacement for synthetic fungicides or in combination with other established disease management practices could help control citrus postharvest decay in a more sustainable and eco-friendly way. •Aqueous extracts of all tested Cistus species revealed a highest significant antifungal activity.•Cistus extracts fully inhibited the arthrospore germination at 5 mg/mL.•Best sour rot control was obtained with C. populifolius and C. creticus extracts.•Cistus aqueous extracts could be used as a potential source of antifungal compounds.