Phenolic compounds activity in controlling Penicilium expansum and patulin accumulation in apples

• Published in: Journal of plant pathology 2008-11, Vol.90 (3), p.601-601
• Main Authors: Sanzani, S M, De Girolamo, A, Schena, L, Solfrizzo, M, Ippolito, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Malus; Penicillium expansum
• ISSN: 1125-4653

Penicillium expansum is responsible for blue mould of pome fruits, that causes considerable postharvest losses, particularly in apples. This pathogen is of public health significance, since it produces patulin, a mycotoxin with genotoxic properties and known to cause immunological, neurological and gastrointestinal toxic effects in animal models. The use of natural compounds has been proposed as a possible alternative to chemical fungicides. In the present study seven phenolic compounds such as quercetin, umbelliferone, ferulic acid, esculetin, scopoletin, scoparone and resveratrol have been tested to control P. expansum and patulin accumulation by in vivo and in vitro trials. Fungal growth and toxin production were evaluated in vitro on an agarized apple juice medium and in vivo on Golden Delicious apple wounds artificially inoculated. When tested in vitro, umbelliferone and quercetin proved to reduce patulin accumulation by 46 and 38%, respectively, although no inhibition of fungal growth was observed. Also in vivo umbelliferone and quercetin significantly reduced disease severity (100-38% and 97-27%, respectively) and patulin accumulation (64% and 84%, respectively). These results suggest that umbelliferone and quercetin may act directly on patulin biosynthesis, whereas their control activity towards P. expansum may be related to the enhancement of host defence response. Further studies are in progress to confirm these hypotheses or to identify other possible modes of action.