Biochemical Characterization, Antifungal Activity, and Relative Gene Expression of Two <i>Mentha</i> Essential Oils Controlling <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i>, the Causal Agent of <i>Lycopersicon esculentum</i> Root Rot
Seham A. Soliman,
Elsayed E. Hafez,
Abdu M. G. Al-Kolaibe,
El-Sayed S. Abdel Razik,
Sawsan Abd-Ellatif,
Amira A. Ibrahim,
Sanaa S. A. Kabeil,
Hazem S. Elshafie
Affiliations
Seham A. Soliman
Plant Protection and Biomolecular Diagnosis Department, Arid Lands Cultivation Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technology Applications, Borg EL-Arab, Alexandria 21934, Egypt
Elsayed E. Hafez
Plant Protection and Biomolecular Diagnosis Department, Arid Lands Cultivation Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technology Applications, Borg EL-Arab, Alexandria 21934, Egypt
Abdu M. G. Al-Kolaibe
Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Taiz University, Taiz 6803, Yemen
El-Sayed S. Abdel Razik
Plant Protection and Biomolecular Diagnosis Department, Arid Lands Cultivation Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technology Applications, Borg EL-Arab, Alexandria 21934, Egypt
Sawsan Abd-Ellatif
Bioprocess Development Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technology Applications, Borg EL-Arab, Alexandria 21934, Egypt
Amira A. Ibrahim
Plant Protection and Biomolecular Diagnosis Department, Arid Lands Cultivation Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technology Applications, Borg EL-Arab, Alexandria 21934, Egypt
Sanaa S. A. Kabeil
Protein Research Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technology Applications, Borg EL-Arab, Alexandria 21934, Egypt
Hazem S. Elshafie
School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is important food in daily human diets. Root rot disease by Fusarium oxysporum caused huge losses in tomato quality and yield annually. The extensive use of synthetic and chemical fungicides has environmental risks and health problems. Recent studies have pointed out the use of medicinal plant essential oils (EOs) and extracts for controlling fungal diseases. In the current research, Mentha spicata and Mentha longifolia EOs were used in different concentrations to control F. oxysporum. Many active compounds are present in these two EOs such as: thymol, adapic acid, menthol and menthyl acetate. These compounds possess antifungal effect through malformation and degradation of the fungal cell wall. The relative expression levels of distinctly upregulated defense-related WRKY genes (WRKY1, WRKY4, WRKY33 and WRKY53) in seedling root were evaluated as a plant-specific transcription factor (TF) group in different response pathways of abiotic stress. Results showed significant expression levels of WRKY, WRKY53, WRKY33, WRKY1 and WRKY4 genes. An upregulation was observed in defense-related genes such as chitinase and defensin in roots by application EOs under pathogen condition. In conclusion, M. spicata and M. longifolia EOs can be used effectively to control this plant pathogen as sustainable and eco-friendly botanical fungicides.
