Antifungal effect of acetogenins from avocado (Persea americana Mill.) seed against the fungus Botrytis cinerea Academic Article in Scopus uri icon

abstract

  • © 2021. All Rights Reserved.Botrytis cinerea (grey mould) is the causal agent of grey rot in strawberries. Worldwide, it causes substantial pre- and postharvest losses (40 - 60%), attacking over 1,400 crops. To combat this phytopathogenic fungus, synthetic preservatives including potassium sorbate (PS) are used, and other barrier technologies have been investigated. Avocado seed acetogenins (ASAs) have been studied for their antibacterial activity but not for their antifungal effect. The effect of ASAs against mycelial growth and conidia of B. cinerea in vitro is unknown. Therefore, the aim of the present work was to investigate the antifungal effect of a crude avocado seed extract enriched with acetogenins (Avosafe®) against mycelial growth and conidial germination of B. cinerea in vitro. Twelve Avosafe® treatments were tested using an agar extract dilution method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the antifungal effect of Avosafe® on mycelial growth and conidial germination were tested after 96 and 5 h of incubation at 18 ± 1°C, respectively. An adjusted kinetic Gompertz model was used to determine the growth phase in which Avosafe® affected mycelial growth and conidial germination. Avosafe® at a concentration of 7,500 mg/L directly affected the stationary phase of the developing fungus with no significant differences (p > 0.05) with typical usage level of PS (1,000 mg/L). The mean fungistatic concentration of mycelial growth (661 mg/L) was associated with a 78% reduction in the percentage of conidial germination, whereas its IC50 at this stage was 75.42 mg/L. Therefore, Avosafe® could be a possible alternative as natural fungistatic agent against B. cinerea in processed food products such as strawberry purée.

publication date

  • October 1, 2021