Articles
IN VITRO ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF NEEM OIL AGAINST BANANA PATHOGENS
Article number
975_21
Pages
197 – 207
Language
English
Abstract
Neem, Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae), is a medicinal tree from India.
Neem kernel oils obtained using a cold press and solvent extraction by the Soxhlet method were assessed for antifungal activity against 17 fungal strains isolated from banana fruit.
These oils (used at different concentrations) significantly inhibited mycelial growth of 14 of the strains tested after 7 days exposure at 30°C by virtue of volatile compounds released from 100 µl of the oil.
Volatile compounds present in the oils were characterized by SPME and GC-MS. This showed the presence of biologically active volatile compounds, such as organosulfur compounds, in the neem oils tested.
These compounds are known to have antimicrobial activity.
The in vitro results suggest that employing neem kernel oil as a fumigant to control post-harvest pathogens is worthy of further investigation.
Neem kernel oils obtained using a cold press and solvent extraction by the Soxhlet method were assessed for antifungal activity against 17 fungal strains isolated from banana fruit.
These oils (used at different concentrations) significantly inhibited mycelial growth of 14 of the strains tested after 7 days exposure at 30°C by virtue of volatile compounds released from 100 µl of the oil.
Volatile compounds present in the oils were characterized by SPME and GC-MS. This showed the presence of biologically active volatile compounds, such as organosulfur compounds, in the neem oils tested.
These compounds are known to have antimicrobial activity.
The in vitro results suggest that employing neem kernel oil as a fumigant to control post-harvest pathogens is worthy of further investigation.
Authors
W. Sagoua, M.N. Ducamp, G. Loiseau
Keywords
antifungal activity, GC-MS, neem oil, postharvest, SPME
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