Abstract

LANDERO-VALENZUELA, Nadia et al. Mulberry (Morus alba) leaf extracts as a control alternative of blue mold on postharvest apple fruit. Rev. mex. fitopatol [online]. 2017, vol.35, n.1, pp.1-19. ISSN 2007-8080.  https://doi.org/10.18781/r.mex.fit.1605-2.

Penicillium expansum, causal agent of blue mold on apple, causes significant postharvest losses in apple. This fungus is largely controlled with synthetic fungicides. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of leaf extracts of mulberry (Morus alba) as a control alternative of blue mold on postharvest apple fruits. Eleven treatments including a chemical and an untreated control, were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. In the in vitro experiments, mycelial growth and sporulation of the fungus were measured, and in the in vivo experiments severity and fruit decoloration were measured by image analysis. For the leaf extracts, asymptomatic mulberry leaves were collected, crushed and placed in a methanol or ethyl acetate as the solvent phase separation, or distilled water, each at concentrations of 4, 8 and 12%. The results showed that the extract methanol based at 4 % and 12 % inhibited mycelial growth. A treatment with 12 % aqueous extract had the same effect. As for the sporulation of the fungus, it was also observed that the extract methanol based at 4 and 12 % decreased sporulation, and the separated phase with ethyl acetate to 8 %, equaling the chemical control. The severity of disease on inoculated fruits was inhibited by Imazalil with 75.1 %, followed by extract (4 %) with a 40.3 % effectiveness. Only treatment with ethyl acetate at 8 % caused changes on the color of the fruits.

Keywords : Malus domestica; Morus alba; Penicillium expansum; postharvest losses.

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