Abstract

Essential oils are a real ore rich in bioactive compounds characterized by a wide spectrum of various biological activities.
In this context, our research focused on the study of the chemical composition of Mentha pulegium and Myrtus communis
essential oils growing in Northeast Algeria as well as the exploration of their antifungal activities in vitro and in vivo against
Botrytis cinerea responsible for moulding on strawberries. GC–MS analysis indicated that M. pulegium essential oil was an
isomenthone chemotype (55.59%) while M. communis essential oil was characterized as a eucalyptol chemotype (36.82%).
M. pulegium essential oil expressed the best antifungal activity either with poisonous medium method (MIC= MFC:2.66 µl/
ml) or with volatile activity method (MIC:30 µl) compared to M. communis essential oil, (MIC:5.33 µl/ml, MFC:10.66 µl/ml)
which expressed no volatile activity. Both crude oils completely inhibited the germination of B. cinerea spores and resulted
in up to 88% morphological changes in conidia. In vivo tests have revealed the effectiveness of M. pulegium essential oil in
completely suppressing grey mould from strawberries previously inoculated with conidia of B. cinerea by direct contact or
exposure to vapours. M. pulegium essential oil display weak phytotoxicity towards fumigated strawberries at low temperatures
(T < 16 °C). This low phytotoxicity was confirmed by the preservation of some physical parameters of strawberries stored
at 7 °C such as colour and weight loss.

Information

Item Type:	Journal
Divisions:
ePrint ID:	4484
Date Deposited:	2023-10-13
Further Information:	Google Scholar
URI:	https://www.univ-soukahras.dz/en/publication/article/4484

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