Effet of Some Volatile Compounds on Black Mould Disease on Onion Bulbs During Storage

Research Journal of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, 2(6): 384-390, 2006 2006, INSInet Publication Effet of Some Volatile Compounds on Black Mould Disease on Onion Bulbs During Storage M.A. Abd-Alla, R.S.R. El-Mohamedy and R.I. Badeaa Department of Plant Pathology, National Research Centre - Egypt Abstract: Black mould of onion is caused by the fungus Aspergillus niger van Tieghem. High incidence of black mould has caused major marketing problems. Not only is the value of the product reduced, but also some importing countries regard black mould as a human health hazard. The fungus Aspergillus niger is common as a saprophyte in soil and on decaying plant material. A number of volatile compounds inhibit the growth of microorganisms. The presence of volatile compounds has also been hypothesized to play an important role in the defense systems of fresh produce against decay microorganisms. Four concentrations of tested volatile solutions i.e. 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0ml were tested against linear growth and spore germination of pathogenic fungi. Thyme oil solutions at 1.0 ml/l gave a complete reduction in A.niger linear growth, followed by lemongrass oil treatment it gave 77.7% reduction in the fungal growth at the same concentration. Preacetic acid PAA showed less effect against linear growth at all concentrations. Thyme oil solution showed highly effect to reducing percentage of spore germination in all tested concentrations, followed by lemongrass oil solution, while PAA show a low effect than other. Four concentrations of tested volatile vapors i.e. 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 ml/l were tested against linear growth and spore germination of pathogenic fungi. The vapor of lemongrass and thyme oil was more effective than PAA and obtained 72.2 %, 61.1% reduction in fungal growth at 0.8ml/l, respectively,but PAA vapor can be less effective. Thyme oil vapor followed by lemongrass oil vapor at the same concentration was more effective in reducing the percentage of spore germination by 60.5and 54.1%, but PAA gave less effective than others. Four concentrations of tested volatile compounds vapors i.e. 100, 150,200 and 400 µl/l for 60 min in fumigation chamber were tested against black mould disease incidence in onion bulbs during four storage periods 7,14, 21 and 45 days.at 400µl/l and 200 µl/l, thyme oil vapor gave a complete protective effect against disease incidence at all storage periods. At 150 µl/l, at the end of storage time, the onion bulbs fumigated with thyme oil and lemongrass oil vapors reducing disease incidence by ( 84.0 % and 82.0% ) respectively, when compared with control. At 100 µl/l, at the end of storage time, the onion bulbs fumigated with thyme oil and lemongrass oil vapors reducing disease incidence by ( 72.6% and 70.5%) but, PAA vapor was less effect, it gave reduction in disease incidence by 38.9%. It could be suggested that thyme, lemongrass and (PAA)vapors might be used commercially as a new approach for controlling black mould disease in onion bulbs during transportation and storage. Key words: Onion-Black mould-thymol-lemongrass oil-peracetic acid-fumigation-aspergillus niger. INTRODUCTION Onion (Allium cepa L.) is an important vegetable crop grown under a wide range of climates in both temperate and tropical regions. Onion is one of the most important exportation crop in Egypt. Black mould of onion is caused by the fungus Aspergillus niger van Tieghem. It is a hightemperature fungus, with an optimum temperature range for growth of 28-34 C.Warmth and moisture favour development of the disease (1,2). Although the disease can occasionally be seen in the field at harvest, black mould is primarily a postharvest disorder and can cause extensive losses in storage under tropical conditions [3].High incidence of black mould has caused major marketing problems. Not only is the value of the product reduced, but also some importing countries regard black mould as a human health hazard. [2]. The fungus Aspergillus niger is common as a saprophyte in soil and on decaying plant material [4].The fungus can be seed-borne in onions and up to 100% of seed lots in Sudan were found to be naturally infested [5]. common in the soil and on dead plant material. Infection of bulbs usually occurs through wounds (especially through the neck as onions mature and tops break over or are cut). The fungus may also enter through wounds on the roots or bruised outer scale tissue, [6]. show disease symptoms in plate [1]. Corresponding Author: M.A. Abd-Alla, Department of Plant Pathology, National Research Centre - Egypt 384

Peracetic acid (PAA) was patented in 1950 to treat fruits and vegetables to reduced spoilage from bacteria and fungi destined for processing [17]. It has since been in systems to disinfect recalculated wash water used to handle fresh produce [18].It is used to treat bulbs [19] and in seed treatment to inactivate fungal or other types of plant disease. While there is along history of experimental field use as a fungicide / bactericide, efficacy has only recently established [20]. Our study was conducted to evaluate the effect of vapors of some essential oils i.e. thyme oil and lemongrass oil and peracetic acid vapor on A.niger growth and spore germination and controlling black mould disease of onion bulbs under lab. and semi-commercial conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS Plate 1: Black mould disease symptoms in onion bulbs during storage. Several investigations found that number of fungicides successfully controlled postharvest decay pathogens of onion bulbs [3]. However, chemical control programs facing threatening problems. The use of chemical fungicides imposes selective pressure upon the pathogen population and has residual harmful effect to the man which causes dangerous diseases [7].Moreover, some fungal isolates developed significant resistance to used fungicides [8].There is a growing need to develop alternative approaches for controlling black mould diseases of onion bulbs. Volatiles are small-molecular-weight organic compounds having appreciable vapor pressure at ambient temperature [9,10]. The essential oils produced by different plant genera are in many cases biologically active endowed with antimicrobial, allopathic, antioxidant [11,12]. A number of volatile compounds inhibit the growth of microorganisms [13]. The presence of volatile compounds has also been hypothesized to play an important role in the defense systems of fresh produce against decay microorganisms [14].An important factor in their vapors is that plant volatiles have been widely used as food flaoring agents and many are Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS). The ability of plant volatiles to inhibit decay microorganisms is one of the reasons for interest I them as a component of biological means for controlling postharvest decay of fruits and vegetables [15]. Fumigation of short-chain organic acids and essential oils has shown promise in controlling fungal activities. fumigation with acetic acid or thyme oil at low concentrations has a potential use for postharvest decay control without adverse effects on fruit quality. [16]. Isolation of A.niger from onion bulbs: Onion bulbs collected from different local markets were classified in two groups, healthy and infected. The infected ones were stored at 20<C for 7 days, then examined. The developing fungi were transferred to PDA plates for microscopically examination. The isolated fungi were purified and then identified according to Gilman(1957)(21) and Barnett and Hunter (1972) (22).The purified cultures were maintained on PDA medium for further studies. Effect of vapors of volatile compounds on the linear growth and spore germination of A.niger in vitro: Agar plugs (5-mm diam.) were picked up from the 3-day-old cultures of decay fungi using the bottom end of a sterilized Pasteur pipette and then transferred onto the centers of new PDA in 9-cm Petri dishes. The Petri dishes were then inverted and 7-cm Whitman No. 1 filter papers were attached onto the inner surface of their lids. Volatile compounds individually were impregnated into the filter paper with varying volumes from 0.2 to 0.8 ml/dish. Immediately after the impregnation, the Petri dishes were sealed by wrapping them with plastic film and incubated for 10 days at 25 C. Experiments were repeated two times with four replications for each experiment. The control plates were served as described above but the filter pepper were treated with sterilized water. Linear growth of fungus was measured when the control plates reached full growth and the average diameter was calculated [23]. Fungal Disks (5 mm. dim.) were picked from treated plats and diluted in 9ml test tube with sterilized water and shacked genteelly to spread spores and then plated in new sterilized Petri-dishes containing PDA medium. Four plates as four replicates were used for each treatment. Inoculated plates were incubated at 25±2 C for 24h. Spore germination was examined microscopically and was calculated in percentage. 385

Effect of volatile compounds solutions on the linear growth and spore germination of A.niger in vitro: Four concentrations of volatile compounds solutions i.e. 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0ml were tested. volatile compounds solutions were added to conical flasks containing PDA medium to obtain the proposed concentrations, then mixed gently and dispensed in sterilized Petri plates (9cm diameter). Plates were individually inoculated at the center with equal disks (5-mm- diameter) of 3 days old culture of A.niger. Inoculated plates were incubated at 25±2C.The average linear growth of fungus tested was calculated after 7 days.the percentage of spore germination for every treatment were calculated as the method was described above. Effect of fumigation onion bulbs with tested volatile compounds on black mould incidence during storage: Onion bulbs health and apparently free from physical damage and diseases were artificially inoculation of inner and outer bulbs scales by spraying bulbs with spore suspension ( 10 6 spores/ml ) of A.niger then air dried at room temperature, 23-25C. Inoculated bulbs were fumigated with Different tested compounds at concentrations of 100, 150, 200 and 400 µl/l (v/v) in fumigation chamber [24]. for 60 min. Fumigated inoculated bulbs were air dried, then stored inside carton boxes. All treated bulbs with either volatile compounds vapor were placed into carton boxes (40x30x20 cm) at the rate of 24 bulbs / box. Each particular concentration as well as control treatment represented by one carton box.all boxes were stored in warm room at 25±2C for 60 days, then examined. Infected bulbs were counted and the percentage of diseases incidence was recorded periodly every week. Statistical analysis: Tukey test for multiple comparison among means utilized. [25]. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS Effect of vapors of volatile compounds on the linear growth and spore germination of A.niger in vitro: Four concentrations of tested volatile vapors i.e. 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 ml/l were tested against linear growth and spore germination of pathogenic fungi. Results in Table (1&2) indicate that all concentrations have inhibitor effect on the growth and decreased the percentage of spore germination of fungus tested. Their effects increased with increasing the materials concentrations. First, the vapor of lemongrass and thyme oil was more effective than PAA and obtained 72.2 %, 61.1% reduction in fungal growth at 0.8ml/l, respectively,but PAA vapor can be less effective, if these treatments compared with control treatment. Secondly, thyme oil vapor followed by lemongrass oil vapor at the same concentration was more effective in reducing the percentage of spore germination by 60.5and 54.1%, but PAA gave less effective than others. Effect of volatile compounds solutions on the linear growth and spore germination of A.niger in vitro: Four concentrations of tested volatile solutions i.e. 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0ml were tested against linear growth and spore germination of pathogenic fungi. Table 1: Effect of vapors of volatile compounds on the linear growth of A.niger in vitro. Linear Growth (mm ) Tested compounds 0.2 % R* 0.4 %R 0.6 %R 0.8 %R Lemon grass oil 47.1c 47.6 41.6c 53.7 30.1d 66.5 25.0d 72.2 Thyme oil 45.0c 50.0 40.5c 55.0 38.0c 57.7 35.0c 61.1 PAA 70.3b 22.2 68.3b 24.1 61.3b 31.8 60.3b 33.0 Control 90.0a ----- 90.0a ----- 90.0a ----- 90.0a ----- Table 2: Effect of vapors of volatile compounds on the percentage of spore germination of A.niger in vitro. % of spore germination Tested compounds 0.2 % R* 0.4 % R 0.6 % R 0.8 % R Lemongrass oil 77.6 b 12.9 55.2 b 35.2 50.1 b 39.6 41.3 c 54.1 Thyme oil 51.0 c 42.7 50.0 b 41.3 48.7 b 41.3 35.5 c 60.5 PAA 87.2 a 2.1 77.2 a 9.4 75.1 a 9.5 70.9 b 21.2 Control 89.1 a ------ 85.3 a ------ 83.0 a ----- 90.0 a ----- 386

Table 3: Effect of volatile compounds solutions on the linear growth of A.niger in vitro. Linear Growth (mm ) Tested compounds 0.5 % R* 1.0 % R 1.5 % R 2.0 % R Lemongrass oil 33.5 c 62.7 20.0 c 77.7 00.0 c 100.0 00.0 c 100.0 Thyme oil 25.5 d 71.6 00.0 d 100.0 00.0 c 100.0 00.0 c 100.0 PAA 68.1 b 24.3 60.6 b 32.6 55.2 b 38.6 51.0 b 43.3 Control 90.0 a ---- 90.0 a ----- 90.0 a ----- ----- 90.0 a Table 4: Effect of volatile compounds solutions on the percentage of spore germination of A.niger in vitro. % of spore germination Tested compounds 0.5 % R* 1.0 % R 1.5 % R 2.0 % R Lemongrass oil 88.2 a 11.8 80.3 b 19.7 80.0 b 20.0 77.8 b 22.2 Thyme oil 75.6 b 24.4 70.1 c 29.9 69.6 c 30.4 65.0 c 35.0 PAA 91.5 a 8.5 90.0 a 10.0 88.4 b 11.6 85.1 b 14.9 Control 100.0 a ----- 100.0 a ----- 100.0 a ----- 100.0 a ----- Fig. 1: Effect of volatile compounds solutions on the linear growth of A.niger in vitro Results in Table (3) and Fig.(1) show that, thyme oil solutions at 1.0 ml/l gave a complete reduction in A.niger linear growth, followed by lemongrass oil treatment it gave 77.7% reduction in the fungal growth at the same concentration. PAA showed less effect against linear growth at all concentrations. On the other hand, results in Table (4)and Fig. (2) indicate that, all concentrations have inhibitor effect on the percentage of spore germination of A.niger, the inhibitor effect was increasing with increased the concentrations of tested solutions. Thyme oil solution showed highly effect to reducing percentage of spore germination in all tested concentrations, followed by lemongrass oil solution, while PAA show a low effect than other. Fig. 2: Effect of volatile compounds solutions on spore germination of A.niger in vitro Effect of fumigation onion bulbs with tested volatile compounds on black mould incidence during storage: Four concentrations of tested volatile compounds vapors i.e. 100, 150,200 and 400 µl/l for 60 min in fumigation chamber were tested against black mould disease incidence in onion bulbs during four storage periods 7,14, 21 and 45 days Results in Table (5) indicate that, all concentrations of materials vapors showed protective effect for onion bulbs against black mould disease incidence during all storage periods, the protective effect was increased with increasing materials concentrations. At 400µl/l and 200 µl/l, thyme oil vapor gave a complete protective effect against disease incidence at all 387

Table 5: Effect of onion bulbs fumigation with volatile compounds on black mould incidence during storage. Black Mould Incidence% Storage days 7 14 21 45 Conc.(µl/l) 100 150 200 400 100 150 200 400 100 150 200 400 100 150 200 400 L.grass oil 00.0 00.0 00.0 00.0 5.5 2.3 00.0 00.0 15.1 10.0 3.5 00.0 22.1 13.5 4.0 00.0 Thyme oil 00.0 00.0 00.0 00.0 13.6 22.1 8.7 00.0 15.0 8.6 00.0 00.0 20.5 12.0 00.0 00.0 PAA 33.3 23.5 13.5 10.0 41.2 35.0 21.0 20.0 45.2 38.1 25.0 21.0 45.8 40.0 25.0 25.0 Control (untreated) 38.6 46.3 55.0 75.0 storage periods, but, onion bulbs fumigated with lemongrass oil vapor gave a best reduction of disease incidence. PAA vapor showed less effect at the same concentrations. At 150 µl/l, at the end of storage time, the onion bulbs fumigated with thyme oil and lemongrass oil vapors reducing disease incidence by ( 84.0 % and 82.0% ) respectively, when compared with control, while bulbs fumigated with PAA vapor gave less effect against disease incidence at the same concentration at all storage periods, but at the end of storage time it reduction the disease incidence by 46.6%. At 100 µl/l, at the end of storage time, the onion bulbs fumigated with thyme oil and lemongrass oil vapors reducing disease incidence by ( 72.6% and 70.5%) but, PAA vapor was less effect, it gave reduction in disease incidence by 38.9%. Black mold of onion is caused by the fungus Aspergillus niger. This disease is the most important factors affecting harvested onion bulbs during handling, transportation, exportation and storage. This disease can occur in the field or during storage. [6]. Essential oils are consisting of various volatile compounds including mono and sesquiterenoids, aldehydes, esters, acid, ketones, alcohols and coumarins. The biological activity of these compounds acting alone and in combination. Peracetic acid (PAA) the peroxide of acetic acid, is disinfectant that has the desirable properties of hydrogen peroxide, i.e. broad spectrum activity against microorganisms, lack harmful decomposition products and infinite water solubility [26]. Peracetic acid also has excellent sporocidel activities [27]. In the present study, tested the effect of some volatile compounds i.e. thyme oil, lemongrass oil and peracetic acid (PAA), which applied as solution state and or vapors state against A.niger growth and spore germination in vitro.and tested these compounds as a vapors to fumigated onion bulbs and study their effect during onion bulbs storage. Thyme oil solution at 1.0 ml/l caused a complete inhibition of fungus linear growth, while lemongrass solution caused a complete inhibition at 1.5ml/l.The vapor of lemongrass and thyme oil were more effective against fungus linear growth, thy obtained 72.2%and 61.1% reduction in fungus growth at 0.8ml/l, respectively. PAA give lower effect than other. On the other hand, at a high concentration 2.0 ml/l,thyme oil causes highly inhibitor effect on fungus spore germination by 35.0% followed by lemongrass oil by 22.2%.These results are agreement with those obtained by Marino et al., [28], he found that thymol is at least 18 times as effective as phenol ( used in commercial germicides), but has much lower toxicity and in vitro studies have shown that thymol exhibits antifungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans and Aspergillus. Paranagama et al., [29], they found that, lemongrass oil have antimicrobial properties and noted that,lemongrass oil have a fungicidal action on stored rice against storage molds and demonstrates that lemongrass oil can be used on food preparation areas to get rid of fungal spores. Davis and Smoot, [30] noted that essential oils contained a high quantity of alcohol's but not aldehyde compounds showing high inhibition of spores germination of P.digitatum. Knobloch et al., [31] noted that the antimicrobial characteristics of essential oils seem to be correlated to their solubility and capacity to interfere with the enzymatic reactions of the cytoplasm membrane of the pathogens. Mari et al., [32], studied the effect of different concentrations of preacetic acid (PAA) on germination of Monilinia laxa conidia, he found the complete inhibition of germination was PAA at 500µg/ml after 5min of contact with conidia. Greenspan and Mackeller, [33], reported that PAA at 50µg/ml had high fungicidal activity against Aspergillius niger and Pencillium roqueforti in tomato after 10min of exposure. Four concentrations of tested volatile compounds as a vapors for 60 min in fumigation chamber to studied their effect on black mould disease incidence on onion bulbs during storage. All concentrations of volatile compounds vapors showed protective effect for onion bulbs against black mould disease incidence during all storage periods. At 100µl/l at the end of storage time, the bulbs were fumigated with thyme oil and lemongrass oil vapors reducing disease incidence by ( 72.6% and 70.5% ) respectively, while PAA vapor gave reduction in disease 388

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