EVALUATION OF PLANT ESSENTIAL OILS FOR CONTROL OF POSTHARVEST BROWN AND GRAY MOLD ROTS ON APRICOT

In this study, antifungal activities of Thymus vulgaris L., Eugenia caryophyllata L., Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume and Carum copticum L. essential oils against Monilinia fructicola and Botrytis cinerea, two important postharvest pathogens of stone fruit, were investigated under in vivo studies. Results showed that the essential oil treatments, especially T. vulgaris and E. caryophyllata oils, had a good antifungal activity in reduction of both disease incidence and disease severity of brown and gray mold rots caused by M. fructicola and B. cinerea on apricots, respectively. Gas chromatography (GC) and GC/mass spectrometry analysis of tested essential oils showed that thymol (37.55%), eugenol (48.76%), cinnamaldehyde (90.33%) and thymol (50.88%) were the main components of T. vulgaris, E. caryophyllata, C. zeylanicum, C. copticum oils, respectively. Application of C. copticum and E. caryophyllata oils on apricot fruit showed a significant effect on fruit quality retention as evaluated with weight loss (%), fruit firmness, total soluble solids, titratable acidity and maturity index in sensory parameters. These results revealed that T. vulgaris and E. caryophyllata oils could be natural alternatives to fungicides in the control of M. fructicola and B. cinerea infections.