In Search of Antifungals from the Plant World: The Potential of Saponins and Brassica Species against <i>Verticillium dahliae</i> Kleb.
Caterina Morcia,
Isabella Piazza,
Roberta Ghizzoni,
Stefano Delbono,
Barbara Felici,
Simona Baima,
Federico Scossa,
Elisa Biazzi,
Aldo Tava,
Valeria Terzi,
Franca Finocchiaro
Affiliations
Caterina Morcia
Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Via San Protaso 302, I-29017 Fiorenzuola d’Arda, Italy
Isabella Piazza
Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Via San Protaso 302, I-29017 Fiorenzuola d’Arda, Italy
Roberta Ghizzoni
Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Via San Protaso 302, I-29017 Fiorenzuola d’Arda, Italy
Stefano Delbono
Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Via San Protaso 302, I-29017 Fiorenzuola d’Arda, Italy
Barbara Felici
Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Via Ardeatina 546, I-00178 Roma, Italy
Simona Baima
Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Via Ardeatina 546, I-00178 Roma, Italy
Federico Scossa
Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Via Ardeatina 546, I-00178 Roma, Italy
Elisa Biazzi
Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Centre for Animal Production and Aquaculture, Viale Piacenza 29, I-26900 Lodi, Italy
Aldo Tava
Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Centre for Animal Production and Aquaculture, Viale Piacenza 29, I-26900 Lodi, Italy
Valeria Terzi
Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Via San Protaso 302, I-29017 Fiorenzuola d’Arda, Italy
Franca Finocchiaro
Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Via San Protaso 302, I-29017 Fiorenzuola d’Arda, Italy
Control methods alternative to synthetic pesticides are among the priorities for both organic and conventional farming systems. Plants are potential sources of compounds with antimicrobial properties. In this study, the antifungal potentialities of saponins derived from Medicago species and oat grains and of brassica sprouts have been explored for the control of Verticillium dahliae, a widely distributed fungal pathogen that causes vascular wilt disease on over 200 plant species. All the tested plant extracts showed antifungal properties. Such compounds, able to reduce mycelium growth and conidia formation, deserve deeper in vivo evaluation, even in combination with a delivery system.
