Abstract
Essential oils are effective in controlling pathogens and are recognized as safe. The objective was to characterize the chemical compounds in essential oil of T. linifolia and to evaluate their effect in vitro and in postharvest strawberry fruits against B. cinerea. The essential oil was analyzed by gas-mass chromatography. Six concentrations of oil (1, 0.5, 0.1, 0.1, 0.01, 0.001 and 0.0001%), a control and Cabrio C fungicide were evaluated in vitro against B. cinerea. The lethal concentration LC90 and LC50 were estimated by Probit analysis. Subsequently, CL90, CL50, Tween 80 0.01% and a control were evaluated in the in vitro germination of conidia. CL90 and CL50 were retaken for evaluation on strawberry fruits. Twenty-five chemical compounds were identified in the essential oil. Concentrations of 1 and 0.5% inhibited B. cinerea without statistical differences with respect to the commercial fungicide. Tween 80 promoted conidial germination (89%) and with the lethal concentration CL90 (1.6%) there was no germination. Fruit treated with CL90 showed lower incidence and severity. The essential oil had a fungistatic effect against B. cinerea and a protective effect on strawberry fruits.
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