Utilization of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester to Control Alternaria alternata Rot in Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) Fruit

• Published in: Journal of phytopathology Vol. 156; no. 3; pp. 164 - 173
• Main Authors: Ojeda-C.ontreras, A.-J, Hernández-M.artínez, J, Domínguez, Z, Mercado-R.uiz, J.-N, Troncoso-R.ojas, R, Sánchez-E.strada, A, Tiznado-H.ernández, M.-E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2008; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; Blackwell
• Subjects: Alternaria alternata; Alternaria rot; Biological and medical sciences; caffeic acid phenethyl ester; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungal plant pathogens; fungi infection; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; tomato fruit; Plant pathology; Microbiology; Plant pathogen; fungi infection; Captan; Incidence; Fungi; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Lycopersicon esculentum; caffeic acid phenethyl ester; Fungi Imperfecti; Solanaceae; tomato fruit; Human; Alternaria rot; Pesticides; Alternaria alternata; In vitro; Fungicide; Strain; Resistance; Storage; Vegetable crop; Environment; Spermatophyta; Models
• ISSN: 0931-1785; 1439-0434
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0434.2007.01325.x

Chemical fungicides that are related with resistant strains develop negative effects on human health and environment. Propolis is a resinous substance collected by bees with positive effects on human health and inhibitory activity against Alternaria alternata. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is a component of the propolis. The objective of this experiment was to test the effect of CAPE on fungi infecting tomato fruit using as a model the pathosystem A. alternata-tomato. CAPE was chemically synthesized in our laboratory and analysed with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Different concentrations (0, 16, 32, 48, 64, 80, 90 and 100 μ m) of CAPE were tested on A. alternata growing in vitro. For the in vivo experiment, red ripe tomato fruit was inoculated with A. alternata and untreated or treated with 1, 50 and 100 μ m of CAPE. After that, the fruit was stored at 25°C for up to 20 days. Colony size (CS) was recorded in vitro. In tomato fruits, the severity of infection (SI), respiration rate (RR), ethylene production (EP), pH, total soluble solids (TSS), weight loss (WL) and titratable acidity (TA) were evaluated during the storage time. CAPE melting point and spectral data probed to be the right molecule. In vitro, 64 and 100 μ m of CAPE reduced CS by 30%. In vivo, 50 and 100 μ m of CAPE reduced SI higher than the fungicide Captan® with no effects on RR, EP, WL, pH, TSS and TA. It was concluded that CAPE controls A. alternata infection better than a commercial fungicide without negative effects on tomato fruit ripening and fruit quality.