Catálogo de Investigaciones | 2014-2015

CATÁLOGO DE INVESTIGACIONES | AÑO ACADÉMICO 2014-2015 53 Essential Oils’ Fungistatic and Fungicidal Activity Against Penicillium sp., A Postharvest Fungus, Affecting Citrus Crops In Puerto Rico Botanical pesticides have emerged as effective means to protect crops and their products and the environment from chemicals. Previously, we had evaluated the antifungal activity of commercial plant extracts against the postharvest green mold (Penicillium sp.) affecting citrus crops. Of the essential oils tested in vitro, Peppermint (Mentha piperita) and Basil (Ocimum basilicum) had the strongest fungistatic activity as observed in the YPD-MB media growth inhibition test for which we added the pathogen to the media and inoculated the essential oil by the drop test method. We tested other commercial plant extracts: Syzygium aromaticum (cloves), Cinnamomum verum (cinnamon leaf), Cinnamomum verum (cinnamon bark), Eucalyptus globus (eucaliptus), Origanum vulgare (oregano), Citrus tangerine (tangerine) and Annona muricata (soursop) against Penicillium sp. The growth inhibition assay was modified for all essential oils by adding the essential oil to the media (YPD, SGA and PGA) and then adding the green mold by the drop test. The in vitro results of peppermint and basil demonstrated their fungistatic activity against the green mold while oregano, cloves, cinnamon-leaf and cinnamon-bark showed a 100% growth inhibition of the same mold. These results revealed the fungistatic and fungicidal activity of these essential oils and their possible use as biocontrol agents for postharvest pathogens in citrus crops. stephanie torres y kiara rivera maestría en ciencias con especialidad en biotecnología mentor: dra. hna. nancy arroyo gonzález essential oils fungistatic activity fungicidal activity penicillium sp citrus crop