Biological Activity of Syzygium aromaticum and Ravensara aromatica Essential Oils from Madagascar and Their Possible Use against Postharvest Mango Anthracnose

Abstract

The fungitoxicity of five Malagasy essential oils (Eos) against Colletotrichum asianum was assessed in terms of conidial germination and mycelial growth. Their effect on defense-related compounds content, physicochemical properties and anthracnose lesions in mango fruits was also determined. Four of the tested Eos were from Ravensara aromatica leaves, and the last Eo was extracted from clove leaves. Their chemical compositions were then determined through GC-MS analysis and the active compound of the most fungitoxic Eo was determined by testing the toxicity of its major component to C. asianums spore germination, mycelial growth and its ability to inhibit anthracnose development on mango fruits. The R. aromatica Eos tested were fungistatic to C. asianum, whereas clove Eo was fungitoxic and the 4 chemotypes of R. aromatica Eo exhibited variable inhibiting capabilities: 1) all tested doses of all Eos (112.5 and 225 µL/L of air) were effective against C. asianum mycelial growth (10% - 100% inhibition) but doses of 225 µL/L were more inhibitory than those of 112.5 µL/L, 2) Conidial germination was more resistant to Eos toxicity since only 225 µL/L of methyl eugenol chemotype of R. aromatica Eo, all tested doses of the sabinene chemotype of R. aromatica Eo and clove Eo were found inhibitory toward conidial germination of C. asianum. 30 µL/L of sprayed clove Eoweretested on inoculated mangoes and were found to be effective against anthracnose development without affecting the resorcinol content in mango peel and the physicochemical properties of mango pulp. Tests on the major components of clove Eo showed fungitoxic activities against mycelial growth and conidial germination of C. asianum similar to those of clove Eo.