Integration between chitosan and Zataria multiflora or Cinnamomum zeylanicum essential oil for controlling Phytophthora drechsleri, the causal agent of cucumber fruit rot

Abstract

This study reports the efficacy of chitosan (CS) in combination with Zataria multiflora (ZEO) or Cinnamomum seylanicum (CEO) essential oil to inhibit Phytophthora drechsleri in vitro and on artificially infected cucumbers for a storage period of 10 days. The fungal growth significantly was reduced by increasing concentrations of ZEO, CEO and CS that CEO was the most effective. Moreover, combined treatments showed more significant mycelial inhibition results and reduction of the IC50, MIC and MFC values compared with pure EOs or CS (p < 0.05). The most effective treatments in reducing mycelial growth were those based on the combination of CS with CEO (CC) or ZEO (CZ). In fruit decay assays, the combined treatments (CC and CZ) were able to reduce fungal decay in the range of 77–85% at day 9, compared with in the control.