Chemical Composition and Antifungal Activity of Myrcia multiflora and Eugenia florida Essential Oils

The essential oils of three specimens of Myrcia multiflora (A, B and C) and Eugenia florida were extracted by hydrodistillation, and the chemical compositions from the essential oils were identified by gas chromatography and flame ionization detection (CG/MS and CG-FID). The fungicide potential of the EOs against five fungicide yeasts was assessed: Candida albicans INCQS-40175, C. tropicalis ATCC 6258, C. famata ATCC 62894, C. krusei ATCC 13803 and C. auris IEC-01. The essential oil of the specimen Myrcia multiflora (A) was characterized by the major compounds: α-bulnesene (26.79%), pogostol (21.27%) and δ-amorphene (6.76%). The essential oil of the specimen M. multiflora (B) was rich in (E)-nerolidol (44.4%), (E)-γ-bisabolene (10.64%) and (E,E)-α-farnesene (8.19%), while (E)-nerolidol (92.21%) was the majority of the specimen M. multiflora (C). The sesquiterpenes seline-3,11-dien-6-α-ol (12.93%), eremoligenol (11%) and γ-elemene (10.70%) characterized the chemical profile of the EOs of E. florida. The fungal species were sensitive to the essential oil of M. multiflora (B) (9–11 mm), and the lowest inhibitory concentration (0.07%) was observed in the essential oil of M. multiflora (A) against the yeasts of C. famata. Fungicidal action was observed in the essential oils of M. multiflora (A) against C. famata, with an MIC of 0.78 µL/mL and 3.12 µL/mL; C. albicans, with an MFC of 50 µL/mL and M. multiflora (C) against C. albicans; and C. krusei, with a MFC of 50 µL/mL.

A Specific Mixture of Propolis and Carnosic Acid Triggers a Strong Fungicidal Action against Cryptococcus neoformans

Current antifungal chemotherapy against the prevalent basidiomycete Cryptococcus neoformans displays some drawbacks. This pathogenic fungus is refractory to echinocandins, whereas conventional treatment with amphotericin B plus 5-fluorocytosine has a limited efficacy. In this study, we explored the potential cryptococcal activity of some natural agents. After conducting a screening test with a set of propolis from different geographical areas, we selected an extract from China, which displayed a certain cytotoxic activity against C. neoformans, due to this extract being cheap and easily available in large amounts. The combination of this kind of propolis with carnosic acid in a 1:4 ratio induced a stronger fungicidal effect, which occurred following a synergistic pattern, without visible alterations in external cell morphology. Furthermore, several carnosic acid–propolis formulations applied onto preformed biofilms decreased the metabolic activity of the sessile cells forming biofilms. These data support the potential application of mixtures containing these two natural extracts in the design of new antifungal strategies in order to combat opportunistic infections caused by prevalent pathogenic fungi.

Trichoderma harzianum-Mediated ZnO Nanoparticles: A Green Tool for Controlling Soil-Borne Pathogens in Cotton

ZnO-based nanomaterials have high antifungal effects, such as inhibition of growth and reproduction of some pathogenic fungi, such as Fusarium sp., Rhizoctonia solani and Macrophomina phaseolina. Therefore, we report the extracellular synthesis of ZnONPs using a potential fungal antagonist (Trichoderma harzianum). ZnONPs were then characterized for their size, shape, charge and composition by visual analysis, UV–visible spectrometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Zeta potential, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The TEM test confirmed that the size of the produced ZnONPs was 8–23 nm. The green synthesized ZnONPs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) studies to reveal the functional group attributed to the formation of ZnONPs. For the first time, trichogenic ZnONPs were shown to have fungicidal action against three soil–cotton pathogenic fungi in the laboratory and greenhouse. An antifungal examination was used to evaluate the bioactivity of the mycogenic ZnONPs in addition to two chemical fungicides (Moncut and Maxim XL) against three soil-borne pathogens, including Fusarium sp., Rhizoctonia solani and Macrophomina phaseolina. The findings of this study show a novel fungicidal activity in in vitro assay for complete inhibition of fungal growth of tested plant pathogenic fungi, as well as a considerable reduction in cotton seedling disease symptoms under greenhouse conditions. The formulation of a trichogenic ZnONPs form was found to increase its antifungal effect significantly. Finally, the utilization of biocontrol agents, such as T. harzianum, could be a safe strategy for the synthesis of a medium-scale of ZnONPs and employ it for fungal disease control in cotton.

Chromatographic profiles of antifungal exo- and endometabolites of Bacillus velezensis

The antifungal activity of the Bacillus bacteria is based on their ability to produce metabolites. Therefore, when selecting a strain that produces an effective biofungicide, it is necessary to assess the metabolism of bacteria. The aim of this work is to isolate exo- and endometabolites of the promising B. velezensis BZR 336g and B. velezensis BZR 517 strains and assess their antifungal activity. Studies were carried out in 2020–2021. The object of the study is a liquid culture of the B. velezensis BZR 336g and B. velezensis BZR 517 strains. Methods of liquid extraction, ascending thin layer chromatography (TLC), bioautography with a test-culture of Fusarium oxysporum var. orthoceras and Alternaria sp. fungi were used to analyze metabolites. The ability of the strains to accumulate a complex of active metabolites showing antifungal effect from fungistatic to fungicidal action was revealed. On the bioautogram of exometabolites, we found two most pronounced zones (Rf 0.18 and 0.29) of Fusarium oxysporum var. orthoceras BZR P1 growth inhibition (fungicide). Zones with Rf 0.58 for B. velezensis BZR 336g and Rf 0.70 for B. velezensis BZR 517 correspond to the test fungus growth retardation (fungistatic). Significant suppression of Alternaria sp. BZR P8 growth was also observed in two zones (Rf 0.18 and 0.29). The use of surfactin, iturin A, fengycin (Sigma-Aldrich®) in the TLC analysis made it possible to detect similar lipopeptides in the composition of metabolite complexes produced by the studied bacteria. It should be noted that the studied strains differed both in their ability to produce metabolites of different structure (can be found when analyzing chromatograms under ultraviolet light) and in their effect on phytopathogenic fungi in vitro. This may indicate possible differences in the mechanism of antagonistic activity of bacteria against phytopathogenic fungi. Thus, B. velezensis BZR 336g and B. velezensis BZR 517 produce a significant set of antifungal metabolites and can be used as strains to produce effective biofungicides.

Chemical profile, stability and fungicide activity of oil-in-water nanoemulsion (O / A) incorporated with Ba-har essential oil

The increase in strains resistant to conventional antifungals means that there is a need for studies related to alternative therapeutic practices, such as medicinal plants. This study aims to evaluate the chemical profile and fungicidal activity of the nanoemulsion of the essential oil obtained from Ba-har (Syrian pepper). The phytochemical profile of the plant material was performed based on the methodology of Matos (2009). For extraction of essential oil, 100g of plant material was used, with the isolation of essential oil by the hydrodistillation technique conducted at 100 °C / 3h. To quantify the total phenolics present in the OE, the Folin-Ciocalteu method was used. For the total flavonoids, the AlCl3 complexation method was used. The oil-in-water nanoemulsion was formulated by the low-energy method of phase inversion using essential oil, non-ionic surfactant and water, and the obtained nanoemulsion was subjected to thermodynamic stability tests. The essential oils and stable nanoemulsions were subjected to evaluation of the fungicidal action against strains of Aspergillus niger (ATCC 6275), Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (ATCC 96723) and Penicilium chrysogenum (ATCC 10106). The fungicidal activity was performed according to CLSI (2020) using the Broth Dilution method to obtain the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and sowing on agar for Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (CFM). The results obtained for the total phenolic content were quantified at 348.3 mg EAT g-1 and 346.21 mg EQ g-1 for flavonoids. Ba-har essential oil was more efficient in inhibiting A. niger, as it presented the lowest MIC (200 µg mL-1), followed by P. chrysogenum (250 µg mL-1) and later by C. gloeosporioides (300 µg mL-1). The identification of the secondary metabolites present in Ba-har was quite considerable, since they are responsible for the biological properties, thus inspiring the continuity of studies related to its biological activities. As for the total phenolic content and flavonoids present in the essential oil, they indicated the important antioxidant potential. The fungicidal potential of Ba-har oil showed strong inhibition and mortality, however the nanoemulsion product with the essential oil incorporated showed a more efficient action against the pathogenic fungi tested,

Determination of antimicrobial action of "Apicold oral spray"

Introduction: The causative agents of acute tonsillopharyngitis are viruses and bacterial flora. Treatment of acute pharyngitis is mainly local, which includes aerosols with antiseptics. Aim: Study of antimicrobial action of "Apicold oral spray" on clinical isolates of microorganisms Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Candida albicans isolated from patients' oropharynx in patients. Material and methods: The effect of Apicold Oral Spray (manufactured by APIPHARMA doo) on clinical isolates of Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, and Candida albicans in Ukrainian patients was studied. Antimicrobial activity was assessed after 5, 10 and 20 minutes of action of one dose of "Apicold oral spray" on microorganisms. Bactericidal and fungicidal action (inhibition of cell growth of microorganisms) is expressed as a percentage according to the control. Results and discussion: Apicold Oral Spray has a 100% antimicrobial effect after 5 minutes on clinical isolates of Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Candida albicans (complete growth inhibition of all 5 clinical isolates after 20 minutes). Conclusion: "Apicold oral spray" has a high antimicrobial effect on clinical isolates of Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Candida albicans, which is confirmed by 100% inhibition of the growth of all bacteria after 5 minutes

Application of clove and dill oils as an alternative of salphos for chickpea food seed storage

Mycological investigations of 25 samples of stored chickpea food seeds (Cicer arietinum L.) from grocery stores of Gurgaon and Gorakhpur revealed occurrence of seventeen fungal species belonging to genus viz., Alternaria, Aspergillus, Chaetomium, Colletotrichum, Curvularia, Fusarium, Penicillium, Rhizopus, Rhizoctonia, and Sclerotium. In these Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Fusarium oxysporum had dominance in terms of per cent occurrence. Only one species of Bruchid (Callosobruchus chinensis L.) occurred in all the 25 samples. The biodeterioration of seeds inoculated with fungi: A. flavus, A. niger, F. oxysporum and the insect—C. chinensis, revealed their role in seed deterioration. For chickpea food seed protection essential oils were extracted from edible commodity(clove(Lavang and dill(sowa) leaf). Clove(Lavang) oil registered highest antifungal activity inhibiting (100%) mycelial growth of fungi, viz. species Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Fusarium oxysporum at 300 ppm but was fungicidal at 400 ppm. Dill (Sowa) oil showed complete inhibition at 400 ppm and was fungicidal at 500 ppm. While mixture of both the oils (clove and dill) showed complete inhibition (100%) and fungicidal action at 400 ppm against the dominant fungi. The oils showed 100% insect repellent activity and were found fungicidal at 0.02 ml dose and also insecticidal. The mixture of oils was cidal at 0.02 ml dose. The mixture of oils showed a broad antifungal spectrum at 500 ppm while only 70–93% inhibitory activity at 300 ppm. The oils' mixture's activity was not affected by temp, storage and autoclaving up to 150 days. Oils physico-chemical properties were studied. GC–MS analysis of clove(Lavang) oil depicted major components: 75.63%eugenol while dill(sowa) leaf oil had 25.14% apiole. Formulation of Mixture of oils was more effective showing complete seed protection i.e.no growth of fungi and insects upto 150 days storage than salphos (150 days). While salphos controlled only maximum three fungi (A. terreus, C. dematium, F. moniliforme). The formulated oils mixture did not have any adverse effect on the chickpea seeds and increased their shelf life.

Botanical fungicides in the control of soybean leaf diseases / Fungicidas botânicos no controle de doenças foliares na soja

The soybean cultivation (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) is responsible for the highest pesticides use in agriculture in Brazil. There is an environmental and social need to reduce the use of these substances in crops. The alternative products applied in agriculture such as plant extracts and essential oils, becomes necessary and indispensable, mainly in disease control. Among the plants studied, the Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.), has stood out in some studies, where relevant fungitoxic results have been demonstrated, however, there are still few works that prove its viability in the diseases management in field. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the soybean diseases alternative control through the aqueous extracts and noni essential oil application, in plantings high and low disease pressure. Two field experiments were implemented, with soybean culture, evaluating leaf, fruit aqueous extract and noni essential oil as a fungicidal action. Foliar application of noni extracts and essential oil did not differ from fungicide in Asian Rust and Anthracnose control, in the 2016/17 crop, in both experiments. Soybean productivity was similar in treatments that received leaf extract (1748,8 Kg ha-1), essential oil (1762,5 Kg ha-1) and fungicides (2031,7 Kg ha-1). Where there was no large disease pressure all agronomic characteristics were equivalent, regardless of treatment.

Control of Fungal Diseases in Mushroom Crops while Dealing with Fungicide Resistance: A Review

Mycoparasites cause heavy losses in commercial mushroom farms worldwide. The negative impact of fungal diseases such as dry bubble (Lecanicillium fungicola), cobweb (Cladobotryum spp.), wet bubble (Mycogone perniciosa), and green mold (Trichoderma spp.) constrains yield and harvest quality while reducing the cropping surface or damaging basidiomes. Currently, in order to fight fungal diseases, preventive measurements consist of applying intensive cleaning during cropping and by the end of the crop cycle, together with the application of selective active substances with proved fungicidal action. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the redundant application of the same fungicides has been conducted to the occurrence of resistant strains, hence, reviewing reported evidence of resistance occurrence and introducing unconventional treatments is worthy to pave the way towards the design of integrated disease management (IDM) programs. This work reviews aspects concerning chemical control, reduced sensitivity to fungicides, and additional control methods, including genomic resources for data mining, to cope with mycoparasites in the mushroom industry.