Antifungal effect of carbonate and bicarbonate salts against Botrytis cinerea, the casual agent of grey mould of kiwifruit
Abstract
Control of grey mould of kiwifruit caused by Botrytis cinerea has been accomplished by postharvest application of synthetic fungicides. However, the development of resistant fungal strains and increasing public concern over food safety and the environment are driving a search for alternative disease control strategies. In the present study, the inhibitory effect of carbonate and bicarbonate salts of ammonium, potassium and sodium against B. cinerea were investigated in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Ammonium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate and potassium bicarbonate completely inhibited the mycelial growth of B. cinerea at 10, 25, 25, 50, 50 and 75 mM, respectively. With the exceptions of few, carbonate and bicarbonate salts totaly halted spore germination at lower concentrations than that of the mycelial growth of fungus. Complete inhibitory activity of ammonium carbonate exhibited spore germination at 10 mM, whereas same concentration of sodium carbonate reduced spore germination of fungus by 98.75%; however, the difference between this and the effects of first salt was not statistically significant (P<0.05). The lowest minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) and EC50 values were also recorded in ammonium carbonate treatment. In vivo, however, with the exception of 100 mM ammonium carbonate, five other carbonate and bicarbonate salts significantly reduced the incidence of grey mould on kiwifruits (cv. Hayward). Moreover, potassium bicarbonate was detected to be the most effective salt for in vivo control of disease, and the difference between the effects of the lowest and highest concentrations of the salt was not statistically significant (P<0.05). Results from this study may provide an important basis for further study on the uses of carbonate and bicarbonate salts in the control of grey mould in kiwifruit at wider semi-commercial conditions.
Keywords
Kiwifruit,Botrytis cinerea,carbonate and bicarbonate salts,alternative control
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