Use of plant extracts and essential oil in control of the white mold in lettu ce

Abstract

In the search for alternative methods to control white mold in lettuce caused by the pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary, essential oils and plant extracts emerge as an option. In this study, we evaluated in vitro and in vivo effect of plant extracts of Bauhinia forticata, Piper mikanianum, Elephantopus scaber L., Bambusa oldhamii, Piper aduncum and Solanum paniculatum L. and essential oil of Piper mikanianum for their potential antifungal agent against S. sclerotiorum. The ethanol extracts of P. mikanianum and B. forticata inhibited in vitro the fungus at 20% concentration and, the essential oil P. mikanianum inhibit pathogen from 0.05%. In vivo tests were performed in the best concentrations of in vitro tests. There mycelial growth inhibition with the oil of P. mikanianum at 0.50%, indicating the potential of this, in the control of white mold in lettuce. Not so with the extract, with no inhibition of disease at the concentrations tested.