Published in Scientific Papers. Series B, Horticulture, Vol. LXVIV, Issue 1
Written by Diyana ALEKSANDROVA, Gabor ZSIVANOVITS
In recent years, there has been a trend to research alternative methods for controlling post-harvest fungal pathogens. Using biopolymers and plant extracts is an innovative method that includes many advantages, with human health as a priority. The research includes the efficiency of biopolymer chitosan and extract of grape seed and a combination of them used to control the fungal pathogens Alternaria spp. and Penicillium spp. in vitro conditions. Grape seed extract has antimicrobial activity, manifested by phenolic compounds that cause oxidation of the cell membranes of pathogens without affecting the plants. As a biological agent, chitosan is a biopolymer natural polysaccharide that has several amino groups, determining its activity against plant pathogens. The best percentage of mycelial inhibition varied according to the two pathogens. The pathogen Alternaria spp. was influenced by the combination of chitosan (1%) and grape seed extract (1.5%), the experiment has significant differences between different variants in research. The mycelia of Penicillium spp. showed the best result with inhibition by applying chitosan (1%) with a 1 % solution of grape seed extract. The highest percentage of mycelia growth inhibition was achieved on the sixth day of measurement 20.18% in the pathogen Alternaria spp. According to the control variant, Penicillium spp. has been highest suppressed on the fourth day 15.21% of cultivation of fungal pathogen.
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