Abstract
One of the principal etiological agents associated with losses in horticultural crops is the fungus Colletotrichum sp. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro effectiveness of the essential oil (EO) from Cymbopogon citratus in chitosan supports for the control of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides isolated from sweet pepper plants. Methods: The extraction and phytochemical analysis of the EO of C. citratus were performed along with its encapsulation in chitosan-agar in order to compare it with other techniques and determine its effect on C. gloeosporioides. Results: The EO from the citral chemotype (58%) encapsulated in the chitosan-agar, with an 83% encapsulation efficiency in mass percentage, resulted in the total inhibition of mycelial growth at a minimum inhibitory concentration of 1370 ppm. This concentration was effective in controlling the disease under greenhouse conditions. The effectivity of the capsules containing EO was superior to that of other controls using EO evaluated in vitro. The capsules demonstrated an effective period of 51 days, with an additional 30 days of effectiveness after a reinfection cycle, thus providing similar results to the control with Trichoderma sp. Conclusions: Chitosan capsules present a promising strategy in the use of C. citratus EO on C. gloeosporioides, and they are highly effective and stable under in vitro and field conditions
Highlights
Horticulture is an important economic sector in Colombia and has promising exportation prospects; most horticultural products face restrictions in countries such as Canada, the United States, and Japan, among others
Chitosan capsules present a promising strategy in the use of C. citratus essential oil (EO) on C. gloeosporioides, and they are highly effective and stable under in vitro and field conditions Keywords: encapsulation; lemongrass; anthracnose; citral; sweet pepper
It is estimated that Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Glomerellaceae) caused losses in 48% of the vegetable crops grown in Colombia
Summary
Horticulture is an important economic sector in Colombia and has promising exportation prospects; most horticultural products face restrictions in countries such as Canada, the United States, and Japan, among others. These countries require that crops be grown using clean production systems, either organic agriculture or sustainable agriculture with minimal chemical pesticide use [1]. Colletotrichum is a large genus of fungi that includes a significant number of major fungal pathogens that cause diseases in various tropical and subtropical vegetables It was listed as the eighth most important group of phytopathogenic fungi in the world based on perceived scientific and economic significance [4]
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