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Allagui MB, Moumni M, Romanazzi G. Antifungal Activity of Thirty Essential Oils to Control Pathogenic Fungi of Postharvest Decay. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 13:28. [PMID: 38247587 PMCID: PMC10812670 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13010028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Essential oils (EOs) extracted from aromatic or medicinal plants are biodegradable, safe, and regarded as alternatives to chemical pesticides to reduce fungal species attacking different crops. In this study, thirty EOs at 0.5 mg/mL were evaluated for in vitro growth inhibition of the main postharvest fungi, which are Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, and Penicillium italicum. Cinnamomum verrum EO completely inhibited the mycelial growth of A. alternata and B. cinerea, and Syzygium aromaticum EO completely inhibited the mycelia of A. alternata. B. cinerea mycelial growth was completely inhibited by Gautheria fragrantissima, Cymbopogon nardus, Pelargonium asperum, and Cupressus sempervirens EOs. G. fragrantissima EO inhibited the mycelia growth of P. italicum by 98%. Overall, B. cinerea displayed the highest sensitivity to EOs than P. italicum and A. alternata. G. fragrantissima, C. sempervirens, C. nardus, P. asperum, Mentha piperita, Foeniculum vulgare, C. verrum, and S. aromaticum EOs showed the highest inhibition for these three pathogens. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were lower for C. verrum and S. aromaticum EOs, ranging between 0.31 and 0.45 mg/mL and 0.37 to 0.57 mg/mL, respectively, against the three pathogens. The tested EOs inhibited the in vitro growth of three of the main postharvest fungal pathogens. Further studies are needed to confirm these activities in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Bechir Allagui
- Laboratory of Plant Protection, National Institute for Agronomic Research of Tunisia (INRAT), University of Carthage, Rue Hedi Karray, Ariana 2080, Tunisia
| | - Marwa Moumni
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (M.M.); (G.R.)
| | - Gianfranco Romanazzi
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (M.M.); (G.R.)
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Murolo S, Moumni M, Mancini V, Allagui MB, Landi L, Romanazzi G. Detection and Quantification of Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum in Seeds of Cucurbita maxima Using Droplet Digital Polymerase Chain Reaction. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:764447. [PMID: 35087483 PMCID: PMC8788924 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.764447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum is an important seedborne pathogen of squash (Cucurbita maxima). The aim of our work was to develop a rapid and sensitive diagnostic tool for detection and quantification of S. cucurbitacearum in squash seed samples, to be compared with blotter analysis, that is the current official seed test. In blotter analysis, 29 of 31 seed samples were identified as infected, with contamination from 1.5 to 65.4%. A new set of primers (DB1F/R) was validated in silico and in conventional, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and droplet digital (dd) PCR. The limit of detection of S. cucurbitacearum DNA for conventional PCR was ∼1.82 × 10–2 ng, with 17 of 19 seed samples positive. The limit of detection for ddPCR was 3.6 × 10–3 ng, which corresponded to 0.2 copies/μl. Detection carried out with artificial samples revealed no interference in the absolute quantification when the seed samples were diluted to 20 ng. All seed samples that showed S. cucurbitacearum contamination in the blotter analysis were highly correlated with the absolute quantification of S. cucurbitacearum DNA (copies/μl) in ddPCR (R2 = 0.986; p ≤ 0.01). Our ddPCR protocol provided rapid detection and absolute quantification of S. cucurbitacearum, offering a useful support to the standard procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Murolo
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
| | - Marwa Moumni
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy.,Laboratory of Plant Protection, National Institute for Agronomic Research of Tunisia, University of Carthage, Ariana, Tunisia
| | - Valeria Mancini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
| | - Mohamed Bechir Allagui
- Laboratory of Plant Protection, National Institute for Agronomic Research of Tunisia, University of Carthage, Ariana, Tunisia
| | - Lucia Landi
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Romanazzi
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
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Moumni M, Allagui MB, Mezrioui K, Ben Amara H, Romanazzi G. Evaluation of Seven Essential Oils as Seed Treatments against Seedborne Fungal Pathogens of Cucurbita maxima. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26082354. [PMID: 33919567 PMCID: PMC8073776 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26082354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Essential oils are gaining interest as environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic fungicides for management of seedborne pathogens. Here, seven essential oils were initially tested in vivo for disinfection of squash seeds (Cucurbita maxima) naturally contaminated by Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum, Alternaria alternata, Fusarium fujikuro, Fusarium solani, Paramyrothecium roridum, Albifimbria verrucaria, Curvularia spicifera, and Rhizopus stolonifer. The seeds were treated with essential oils from Cymbopogon citratus, Lavandula dentata, Lavandula hybrida, Melaleuca alternifolia, Laurus nobilis, and Origanum majorana (#1 and #2). Incidence of S. cucurbitacearum was reduced, representing a range between 67.0% in L. nobilis to 84.4% in O. majorana #2. Treatments at 0.5 mg/mL essential oils did not affect seed germination, although radicles were shorter than controls, except with C. citratus and O. majorana #1 essential oils. Four days after seeding, seedling emergence was 20%, 30%, and 10% for control seeds and seeds treated with C. citratus essential oil (0.5 mg/mL) and fungicides (25 g/L difenoconazole plus 25 g/L fludioxonil). S. cucurbitacearum incidence was reduced by ~40% for plantlets from seeds treated with C. citratus essential oil. These data show the effectiveness of this essential oil to control the transmission of S. cucurbitacearum from seeds to plantlets, and thus define their potential use for seed decontamination in integrated pest management and organic agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwa Moumni
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (M.M.); (K.M.)
- Laboratory of Plant Protection, National Institute for Agronomic Research of Tunisia, University of Carthage, 2080 Ariana, Tunisia; (M.B.A.); (H.B.A.)
| | - Mohamed Bechir Allagui
- Laboratory of Plant Protection, National Institute for Agronomic Research of Tunisia, University of Carthage, 2080 Ariana, Tunisia; (M.B.A.); (H.B.A.)
| | - Kaies Mezrioui
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (M.M.); (K.M.)
- Laboratory of Plant Protection, National Institute for Agronomic Research of Tunisia, University of Carthage, 2080 Ariana, Tunisia; (M.B.A.); (H.B.A.)
| | - Hajer Ben Amara
- Laboratory of Plant Protection, National Institute for Agronomic Research of Tunisia, University of Carthage, 2080 Ariana, Tunisia; (M.B.A.); (H.B.A.)
| | - Gianfranco Romanazzi
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (M.M.); (K.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-071-2204336
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Moumni M, Allagui MB, Mancini V, Murolo S, Tarchoun N, Romanazzi G. Morphological and Molecular Identification of Seedborne Fungi in Squash ( Cucurbita maxima, Cucurbita moschata). Plant Dis 2020; 104:1335-1350. [PMID: 32223640 DOI: 10.1094/pdis-04-19-0741-re] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Squash is one of the most important crops of tropical and temperate regions, and it can be affected by several fungal pathogens. Most of these pathogens infect the seeds, which become an efficient vehicle to disperse seedborne pathogens over long distances, with consequent severe crop losses. The main objective of this study was the identification of the principal seedborne fungi in seeds extracted from 66 samples of asymptomatic and symptomatic squash fruit (Cucurbita maxima, Cucurbita moschata) collected in two countries, Tunisia and Italy. The symptoms of fruit decay were identified and classified according to lesion size. Following the blotter test, 14 fungal species were detected from the seeds. Seedborne fungi were identified in all fruit samples tested, including asymptomatic fruit. The most frequent fungi from Tunisian seeds were Alternaria alternata (25.1%), followed by Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum (24.6%), Fusarium solani (16.6%), Rhizopus stolonifer (13.3%), F. fujikuroi (7.8%), Albifimbria verrucaria (3.3%), and Stemphylium vesicarium (2.3%). For the fruits from Italy, the most frequently identified fungal species in seed samples were Alternaria alternata (40.0%), followed by F. fujikuroi (20.8%), Stemphylium vesicarium (3.0%), and Curvularia spicifera (2.1%). Morphological identification was confirmed by molecular diagnosis using the available species-specific primers. Furthermore, specific primers were designed to identify Albifimbria verrucaria, Paramyrothecium roridum, and Stemphylium vesicarium. Application of seed-health testing methods, including such conventional and molecular diagnostic tools, will help to improve seed quality and crop yields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwa Moumni
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy
- National Agricultural Institute of Tunisia, 1082 Tunis, Tunisia
- Laboratory of Plant Protection, National Institute for Agronomic Research of Tunisia, University of Carthage, 2080 Ariana, Tunisia
| | - Mohamed Bechir Allagui
- Laboratory of Plant Protection, National Institute for Agronomic Research of Tunisia, University of Carthage, 2080 Ariana, Tunisia
| | - Valeria Mancini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Sergio Murolo
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Neji Tarchoun
- Laboratory of Vegetable Crops, High Agronomic Institute of Chott Mariem, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Gianfranco Romanazzi
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, 60131 Ancona, Italy
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Bnejdi F, Saadoun M, Allagui MB, Hanbury C, Gazzah ME. Relationship between epistasis and aggressiveness in resistance of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) to Phytophthora nicotianae. Genet Mol Biol 2010; 33:279-84. [PMID: 21637483 PMCID: PMC3036865 DOI: 10.1590/s1415-47572010005000027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2009] [Accepted: 10/20/2009] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
This study evaluated the types of gene action governing the inheritance of resistance to Phytophthora nicotianae necrosis in populations derived from two crosses involving two susceptible (Beldi and Nabeul II) and one resistant (CM334) cultivars of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Populations, composed of Pr, Ps, F(1) , F (2) , BC (1) Pr, and BC (1) Ps generations, were inoculated with six P. nicotianae isolates. Generation means analysis indicated that an additive-dominance model was appropriate for P. nicotianae isolates Pn (Ko1) , Pn (Ko2) and Pn (Kr1) , which showed low aggressiveness in the two crosses. For the more aggressive isolates Pn (Bz1) , Pn (Bz2) and Pn (Kr2) , epistasis was an integral component of resistance in the two crosses. The presence of epistasis in the resistance of pepper to P. nicotianae was dependent on the level of aggressiveness of the isolates. Selection in pepper with less aggressive isolates was efficient, but not with more aggressive isolates; on the other hand, selection with more aggressive isolates was more stable. The minimum number of genes controlling resistance was estimated at up to 2.71. In the majority of cases, the additive variance was significant and greater than the environmental and dominance variance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fethi Bnejdi
- Laboratoire de Génétique et Biométrie, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université Tunis El ManarTunisia
| | - Morad Saadoun
- , Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique de TunisieTunisia
| | | | - Colin Hanbury
- Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia, PerthAustralia
| | - Mohamed El Gazzah
- Laboratoire de Génétique et Biométrie, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université Tunis El ManarTunisia
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