Much chemical fungicides are used to control fungal infections. However, several of these fungicides are detrimental for human health. Today, the use of natural ingredients such as essential oils and extracts plant with the least side effects has been of great interest to researchers. Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) is a belongs to Myrtaceae  family and a herb widely growing in Iran. The aim of this study was to examine the Myrtle essential oil to control the fungi (Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum) “in vitro”. Evaluation of the antifungal activity of Myrtus communis essential oil was investigated by Kirby-Bauer, well agar, macro broth dilution and minimum fungicidal concentration methods. The results showed that the inhibition zone diameter (Kirby-Bauer method) for the fungal strains of Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum was 10.60 and 9.70 mm, respectively. The results showed that the inhibition zone diameter (well agar method) for the fungal strains of Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum was 12.30 and 10.50 mm, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration for Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum was 64 and 128 mg/mL, respectively. The minimum fungicidal concentration was 512 and 512 mg/mL, respectively.

The interest in plants antimicrobial properties has been revived because of the current problems associated with the use of antibiotics. Nowadays, the fact that microorganisms tend to develop drug resistance, besides the side effects of certain antibiotics has offered considerable potentials for the development of new effective antifungal and antioxidant agents; medicinal plants are prolific sources. Avicennia marina, commonly known as grey mangrove, is a species of mangrove tree classified in the plant family Acanthaceae. The aim of this experimental study is determination of antifungal effect of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Avicennia marina on Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium italicum”in vitro”. In this study, quantitative bioassay was done using disc diffusion method, Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) was carried out using broth dilution methods. The results showed that the ethanol extract of Avicennia marina leaves with “antimicrobial activity method” in 2000 μg/ml, were inhibited the growth of Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium italicum. In “disk agar diffusion test” the mentioned extract were shown inhibiti on effect on pathogenic molds growth (p<0.05). The result showed that MIC of ethanolic extract of Avicenna marina leaves for Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium italicum was 16 and 8 mg/ml respectively. The results showed that MFC of ethanolic extract of Avicenna marina for Aspergillus flavus was 32 mg/ml, and for Penicillium italicum was 16 mg/ml. Ethanolic extract compared to the aqueous extract was more effective and has a greater inhibition effect. This study showed that the extract of Avicennia marina had antifungal effects that justify their traditional use as medicinal plants. Finally, the data suggested that Avicennia marina extracts could have notable antifungal effects.

The aim of this study was to investigate the phytochemical analysis and antifungal activities of ethanolic extract of Ficus benghalensis on the growth of fungal strains causing rot in orange fruit during storage (Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum). Total phenol content was evaluated according to Folin-Ciocalteu method, total flavonoid content was evaluated according to aluminum chloride colorimetric method, and antioxidant activity was evaluated based on DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging methods. Various methods (disk diffusion agar, well diffusion agar, minimum inhibitory concentration, and minimum fungicidal concentration) were used to evaluate the antifungal activity of ethanolic extract of F. benghalensis. The amount of phenol and flavonoids in the whole extract was 110.49 mg GAE/g and 62.60 mg QE/g, respectively. Antioxidant activity of ethanolic extract of F. benghalensis based on DPPH and ABTS radical inhibition methods was 48.56 and 57.20 μg/ml, respectively. The results of disk diffusion agar and well diffusion agar tests showed that the antifungal activity of the extract was concentration dependent and the fungal strains of Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum with the lowest and highest diameter of growth inhibition zone, were the most resistant and sensitive species to the extract, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentrations for the above strains were 16 and 8 mg/ml, respectively, and the minimum fungicidal concentrations were 512 and 128 mg/ml, respectively. According to the results, ethanolic extract of F. benghalensis is an important source of antioxidant and antifungal compounds and can be used to increase the shelf life of food products.

Green and blue mold rot diseases caused by Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum are the most important postharvest diseases of citrus fruit. In this research, the use of some essential oils (Cuminumcyminum, Zataria multiflora, Mentha piperita) to control blue and green molds in orange fruits was investigated. Valencia and Jiroft Local oranges were dipped in Penicillium italicum and P. digitatum suspension and were put in waxy papers sprayed with the essential oils at three levels (1, 2.5 and 5%), and thiabendazole fungicide (TBZ) 0.2%. Control fruits were put in waxy papers without any treatments. Then, all the fruits were stored at 8 oC and 85-90% relative humidity for 3 months. Essential oils of Cuminumcyminum (cumin)and Zataria multiflora (Shiraz origanum) were effective on control of blue and green molds in orange varieties at the levels of 5% and 1, 2.5 and 5%, respectively. These treatments had no significant differences with thiabendazole fungicide. The treatments containing mint essential oil had the highest level of rot by blue and green molds. The results of the sensory evaluation showed that the essential oils did not make any special taste in orange varieties. Essential oil of Shiraz origanum in different levels caused improper appearance in the skin of orange varieties and as a result, they obtained the fewer score in the sensory attributes (texture, acceptability). Therefore, for increasing the storage-life of Valencia and Jiroft Local oranges, application of waxy paper containing 5% of cumin essential oil was recommended.

In the present study, the hydroalcoholic extract of Seidlitzia rosmarinus was obtained using maceration method and its antifungal effect against fungi species causing orange fruit rot (Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum) according to disk diffusion agar, well diffusion agar, minimum inhibitory concentration, and minimum fungicidal concentration were evaluated. In addition, the content of total phenols and flavonoids and the antioxidant activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of S. rosmarinus were determined. According to the results of disk diffusion and well diffusion agar tests, the antifungal activity of the extract was dependent on its concentration and P. digitatum was the most sensitive fungal strain to the extract. Moreover, both fungal strains were unable to grow in the presence of 32 mg/ml extract and the minimum fungicidal concentration for P. digitatum was 512 mg/ml. The contents of total phenols and total flavonoids of the extract were 26.19 mg GAE/g and 11.10 mg QE/g, respectively. The results of antioxidant activity showed that the hydroalcoholic extract of S. rosmarinus is able to scavenge DPPH (112.14 μg/ml) and ABTS (103.46 μg/ml) free radicals. In general, the results of this study show that the hydroalcoholic extract of S. rosmarinus plant contains phenolic compounds with antifungal and antioxidant potential.

The usage of plant extraction such as tannins, flavonoids & et. as an alternative to fungicidal effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate of  the antifungal effect of Iranian oak Jaft extract after extraction by different methods on Penicillium italicum and (Penicillium digitatum as an indicator of citrus fruit mold spoilage. molds were expossered by different concentrations of oak Jaft extract. The investigated factors including minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) (mg/ml), minimum lethal concentration (MFC) (mg/ml) and non-growth diameter (mm) were determined by the methods of tube dilution, surface culture and diffusion in agar well (WD). The results showed that different concentrations of aqueous extract had significantly effect (p<0.05) on the non-growth  diameter of molds. The antifungal effect was significantly (p<0.05)increased in concentrations of 40 and 80 mg/ml aqueous extract. In this research, Fludioxionil 25%  poison as a control group showed a significant difference(p<0.05) in molds growth. In general, the extract of Iranian oak Jaft can be used to control the fungal spoilage of citrus fruits.

Post- harvest rot of citrus fruits is one of the most important limiting factors that reduce the life of harvested products and are one of the most important economical diseases in world’s citrus production areas. Two most important fungi that affect the citrus fruits, are green and blue molds which are produced by Penicillium digitatum and P. italicum, respectively. The disease are mainly managed by using the synthetic fungicides, but because of environmental hazards and appearance of resistant strains of the pathogen, the biological control by the use of bacterial, fungal and yeast antagonists can be suggested. The efficiency of yeasts such as Candida guilliermondii, C. saitoan, Pichia guilliermondi and Aureobasidium pullulans; the bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus subtilis, Pantoea agglomerans and the fungus Muscodor albus, in controlling the green and blue molds of citrus is reported so far. In this paper, we tried to explain the method of biological control with emphasizing on the identification of useful microorganisms and their operation.

The global trend has shifted towards the reduction of synthetic pesticide application in agriculture in general and in postharvest in particular. Currently there is a growing interest in using natural antifungal compounds, like plant extracts for the preservation of foods. In order to develop fungicide formulation of natural origin as postharvest treatments, this study was conducted on the antifungal activity of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) extract against Penicillium italicum and P. digitatum. The experiment was set up according to a completely randomized design with 4 replications using ‘Satsuma’ mandarin. The experimental factors included extract concentration (0, 25%, 50%, 75% or 100%) and the effect of treatments (preventive or curative). The fruits were wounded on the outer surface on four locations to a depth of 2 mm and a diameter of 1 mm. Preventive treatments were carried out by dipping wounded fruit into the formulations of extract and thereafter, each wound site was infected by inoculating 20 μL of the inoculum of P. italicum or P. digitatum. For curative treatments, fruits were wounded as above, and then inoculated with P. italicum or P. digitatum (20 μL of inoculum per wound site). The results showed that the 75% or 100% pomegranate extract applied to ʻSatsuma mandarin produced a significant antimicrobal effect, reduced spore or mycelium diameter, decay severity and infection index and increased sporing time and healthly fruit percentage. Our study showed that 100% pomegranate peel extract application could decrease weight loss rate during storage of “Satsuma” mandarin fruit inoculated with spores of P. digitatum or P. italicum. The obtained results showed that the tested pomegranate extract can be effectively utilized for controlling and curing infections caused by P. italicum and P. digitatum.

In vitro assessment of the antifungal activities was evaluated in the present study for both aqueous and ethanol extracts prepared from leaves of Avicennia Marina and Rhizophora Mucronata. Leaves of mangrove species were collected from Qeshm and Syrik of south-east coast of Iran, mangrove forest respectively. Antimicrobial tests were carried out through disk diffusion method. Minimum fungicidal concentration was determined according to Agar Dilution method. Results showed that the ethanol extracts of both species had antifungal activities on P. pupurogenome, P. chrysogenum, P. notatum, A. niger, A. alternata and Penicillium italicum. However, none of the water extracts showed antimicrobial activity on the studied fungi. Among all pathogens tested, A. flavus was the most resistant fungi. Different concentrations of extracts from Avicennia Marina and Rhizophora Mucronata exhibited different degree of growth inhibition against tested fungal strains. This study indicates the capability of mangrove species for the utilization as source of natural antifungal.

Essential oils are hydrophobic, volatile and aromatic compounds that have been used as fragrances and flavors for a long time. Recent studies have shown that some plant essential oils have fungicidal effects against some important plant pathogens. For instance, the essential oil of thyme inhibits the mycelial growth of Penicillium italicum and the essential oil of lavender shows the fungistatic effect on ‎ Botrytis cinerea, Rhizopus stolonifer and Aspergillus niger. The essential oil of thyme has also been used to control the black rot of orange caused by Alternaria citri and grey mold of strawberry fruits caused by Botrytis cinerea. Antifungal activities of essential oils are mainly related to their effects on fungal cell wall, cell membrane, mitochondria and nitric oxide level. As a result of increased concern about harmful chemical pesticides, essential oils can have a good place in the market as natural fungicides. In this paper, application of essential oils as natural fungicides, their mode of actions and some safety aspects of their application have been discussed.