In vitro antifungal activity of plant essential oils and isothiocyanates against <i>Neoscytalidium dimidiatum</i>, causal agent of tomato disease: chemical composition and morphological investigations
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TROPICAL INSECT SCIENCE, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s42690-026-01887-3
- Dergi Adı: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TROPICAL INSECT SCIENCE
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, Chemical Abstracts Core, Zoological Record, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Biological Science Database (ProQuest), Earth, Atmospheric, & Aquatic Science Collection (ProQuest), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest)
- Hatay Mustafa Kemal Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
This study investigated the antifungal activities of essential oils (EOs) from various plant species belonging to the Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, and Apiaceae families, as well as isothiocyanates (ITCs), against Neoscytalidium dimidiatum, a fungal pathogen that causes significant damage to tomato crops. The EOs were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), which revealed key bioactive compounds, including carvacrol, thymol, terpinen-4-ol, eucalyptol, trans-caryophyllene, trans-anethole, alpha-pinene, linalyl acetate, and limonene. Among the EOs tested, those derived from Thymbra spicata var. spicata, Origanum syriacum, Origanum onites, Aloysia citridora, and Foeniculum vulgare exhibited the most potent antifungal activity, completely inhibiting fungal mycelial growth at concentrations ranging from 1.0 to 4.0 & micro;L/Petri dish. In contrast, EOs from Laurus nobilis and Juniperus communis showed weaker activity, requiring concentrations higher than 50 & micro;L/Petri dish to exert antifungal effects. The antifungal activities of four ITC compounds [methyl isothiocyanate (MITC), allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), ethyl isothiocyanate (EITC), and phenyl ethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC)] were also determined. Among the ITC tested, MITC demonstrated the highest antifungal potential at 10.0 & micro;L/Petri dish, followed by AITC (14.0 & micro;L), EITC (20.0 & micro;L), and PEITC (24.0 & micro;L) which showed progressively weaker inhibition. Light microscopy of fungal hyphae exposed to the most effective EOs revealed significant morphological alterations, including knotting, swelling, cytoplasmic coagulation, and cell lysis, indicating the fungicidal properties of these EOs. This is the first study to report the antifungal effects of plant EOs and ITCs against N. dimidiatum, suggesting their potential as alternative antifungal agents for tomato disease management.