Molecular Identification of Postharvest Moldy Core Pathogens on Apple and Application of Biocontrol Products of Essential Oils (EOs) and Trichoderma harzianum

Abstract

This study aimed to identify prevalent pathogens of a caused moldy core of postharvest apple fruits and the efficiency of essential oils (EO) of clove (Syzygium aromaticum), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), sage (Salvia officinalis), and thyme (Thymus vulgaris), and Trichoderma harzianum filtrate to inhibit pathogens growth of Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, and Penicillium griseofulvum. The examined pathogens are recognized dependent on morphological and also molecular identification. In vivo, clove EO and T. harzianum filtrate were strongly restricted decay area on fruits with 82.36% and 81.69%, respectively when applied as direct inhibition. Growth of all examined pathogens was entirely stopped on fruits treated with both clove and thyme oils at 10%. The results also illustrated that T. harzianum filtrate and EOs exhibited considerable growth inhibition of B. cinerea and ranged between 86.53% and 100%. The lowest inhibitory potential of EOs 47.95% and 75.9% were observed with P. griseofulvum. T. harzianum filtrate was the most effective biocontrol that inhibited fruit decay by 64.5% followed by 45.9%, 38.6%, 37.5%, and 35.9% when utilized EOs of thyme, sage, eucalyptus, and clove, respectively. The growth of both pathogens A. alternata and B. cinerea depressed with up to 90% using T. harzianum filtrate followed by EOs of eucalyptus and thyme. Whereas fruits inoculated with P. griseofulvum were not frustrated when applied to each EOs or T. harzianum. Their systemic induction was restricted between 3.16% and 23.82%.