Antifungal effect of plant extracts from the state of Puebla on Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

Abstract

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) Penz. & Sacc. is the causal agent of anthracnose, a fungal disease that causes considerable losses in pos­tharvest of tropical fruits production. The aim of this study was to evaluate plant extracts that commonly grow in the State of Puebla, which can in­hibit. C. gloeosporioides. and ethanol extracts from the leaves of capulin (Prunus serotina subsp. Capuli), no­gal (Juglans regia), pirul (Schinus molle), ruda (Ruta chalepensis) and marubio (Marrubium vulgare) leaves were obtained. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determi­ned using different concentrations of the extracts (150 to 2000 mg L^-1). Radial growth was evaluated with concentrations below the MIC values; data were fitted to the mo­dified Gompertz model to evaluate maximum growth in the stationary phase, the lag phase and the maxi­mum growth rate. Chloroform ex­tracts of ruda (500 mg L^-1), capulin (750 mg L^-1) and ethanol extracts of ruda (150 mg L^-1) and pirul (300 mg L^-1) showed an antifungal effect on C. gloeosporioides, significant­ly affecting (P< 0.05) maximum growth and radial growth rate of the phytopathogen fungi (60 % of growth inhibition).