Mycobiology

The Korean Society of Mycology (한국균학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

The Major Postharvest Disease of Onion and Its Control with Thymol Fumigation During Low-Temperature Storage

  • Ji, Sang Hye (Department of Bioresources and Food Science, Konkuk University) ;
  • Kim, Tae Kwang (Department of Bioresources and Food Science, Konkuk University) ;
  • Keum, Young Soo (Department of Crop Science, Konkuk University) ;
  • Chun, Se-Chul (Department of Bioresources and Food Science, Konkuk University)
  • Received : 2018.02.12
  • Accepted : 2018.05.14
  • Published : 2018.09.01
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is one of the major vegetable crops in Korea that are damaged and lost by pathogenic fungal infection during storage due to a lack of proper storage conditions. The aim of this study was to determine an appropriate control measure using thymol to increase the shelf life of onions. To control fungal infections that occur during low-temperature storage, it is necessary to identify the predominant fungal pathogens that appear in low-temperature storage houses. Botrytis aclada was found to be the most predominant fungal pathogen during low-temperature storage. The antifungal activity of the plant essential oil thymol was tested and compared to that of the existing sulfur treatments. B. aclada growth was significantly inhibited up to 16 weeks with spray treatments using a thymol solution. To identify an appropriate method for treating onions in a low-temperature storage house, thymol was delivered by two fumigation treatment methods, either by heating it in the granule form or as a solution at low-temperature storage conditions (in vivo). We confirmed that the disease severity was reduced up to 96% by fumigating thymol solution compared to the untreated control. The efficacy of the fumigation of thymol solution was validated by testing onions in a low-temperature storage house in Muan, Jeollanam-do. Based on these results, the present study suggests that fumigation of the thymol solution as a natural preservative and fungicide can be used as an eco-friendly substitute for existing methods to control postharvest disease in long-term storage crops on a commercial scale.

Keywords

References

  1. Marziyeh T, Soheil A, Reza S, et al. Effect of Matricaria chamomilla L. flower essential oil on the growth and ultra-structure of Aspergillus niger van Tieghem. Int J Food Microbiol. 2010;139:127-133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2010.03.032
  2. Hussain FN, Abd-Elrazik FA, Darweish A, et al. Survey of storage diseases of onion and their incidents in upper. Egypt J Phytopathol. 1977;9:15-23.
  3. Yohalem DS, Nielsen K, Nicolaisen M. Taxonomic and nomenclatural clarification of the onion neck rotting Botrytis species. Mycotax. 2003;85:175-182.
  4. Eckert JW, Ogawa JM. The chemical control of postharvest diseases: deciduous fruits, berries, vegetables and root tuber crops. Annu Rev Phytopathol. 1988;26:433-439. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.py.26.090188.002245
  5. Tripathi P, Dubey NK. Exploitation of natural products as an alternative strategy to control postharvest fungal rotting of fruit and vegetables. Postharvest Biol Technol. 2004;32:235-245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2003.11.005
  6. Mihaliak CA, Gershenzo J, Croteau R. Lack of rapid monoterpene turnover in rooted plants: implications for theories of plant chemical defense. Oecologia. 1991;87:373-376. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00634594
  7. Boruga O, Jianu C, Misca C, et al. Thymus vulgaris essential oil: chemical composition and antimicrobial activity. J Med Life. 2014;19:56-60.
  8. Eugenia P, Cidalia PV, Ligia S, et al. Antifungal activity of the essential oil of Thymus pulegioides on Candida, Aspergillus and dermatophyte species. J Med Microbiol. 2006;55:1367-1373. https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.46443-0
  9. Maryam O, Mohsen B, Zohreh H, et al. Antifungal activity of thyme, summer savory and clove essential oils against Aspergillus Xavus in liquid medium and tomato paste. Food Cont. 2007;18:1518-1523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2006.12.003
  10. Pier BC, Maria C, Marina A, et al. Thymol inhibits candida albicans biofilm formation and mature biofilm. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2008;31:472-477. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2007.12.013
  11. Nielsen K, Yohalem DS, Jensen DF. PCR detection and RFLP differentiation of Botrytis species associated with neck rot of onion. Plant Diseases. 2002;86:682-686. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS.2002.86.6.682
  12. Coolong TW, Walcott RR, Randle WM. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for Botrytis aclada in onion bulb tissues. Hort Science. 2008;43:408-413.
  13. Sang MK, Han GD, Oh JY, et al. Penicillium brasilianum as a novel pathogen of onion (Allium cepa L.) and other fungi predominant on market onion in Korea. Crop Protect. 2014;65:138-142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2014.07.016
  14. Shin MH, Kim JH, Choi HW, et al. Effect of thymol and linalool fumigation on postharvest diseases of table grapes. Mycobiology. 2014;42:262-268. https://doi.org/10.5941/MYCO.2014.42.3.262
  15. Liu WT, Chu CL, Zhou T. Thymol and acetic acid vapors reduce postharvest brown rot of apricots and plums. HortScience. 2002;37:151-156.
  16. Dubey NK, Kishore N. Exploitation of higher plant products as natural fumigants. 5th International Congress on Plant Pathology; Kyoto; 1988. p. 423.
  17. Dixit SN, Chandra H, Tiwar R, et al. Development of botanical fungicide against blue mold of mandarins. J Stored Prod Res. 1995;31:165-172. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-474X(94)00041-Q
  18. Smid EJ, Witte Y, Vrees O, et al. Use of secondary plant metabolites for the control of postharvest fungal diseases on flower bulbs. Acta Hortic. 1994;368:523-530.
  19. Tiwari R, Mishra DN, Upadhyaya PS. Efficacy of some plant volatiles for the control of black-mould onion caused by Aspergillus niger Van Tiegh during storage. Nat Acad Sci Lett. 1988;11:345-347.
  20. Rakotonirainy MS, Lavedrine B. Screening for antifungal activity of essential oils and related compounds to control the biocontamination in libraries and archives storage areas. Int Biodeter Biodegrad. 2005;55:141-147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2004.10.002
  21. Burt S. Essential oils: their antibacterial properties and potential applications in foods-a review. Int J Food Microbiol. 2004;94:223-253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2004.03.022
  22. Chu CL, Liu WT, Zhou T, et al. Control of postharvest gray mold rot of modified atmosphere packaged sweet cherries by fumigation with thymol and acetic acid. Can J Plant Sci. 1999;79:685-689. https://doi.org/10.4141/P98-108
  23. Choi YS, Kim KY, Jang DY, et al. Plant essential oils and their antifungal activity. Korean J Pesticide Sci. 2006;10:201-209.
  24. Wang TH, Hsia SM, Wu CH, et al. Evaluation of the antibacterial potential of liquid and vapor phase phenolic essential oil compounds against oral microorganisms. PLoS One. 2016;11:e0163147. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0163147

Cited by

  1. Acaricidal and Chemical Composition of Allium sativum L. Crude Extracts Against Stored Product Mites Suidasia pontifica Oudemans vol.9, pp.6, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1080/22311866.2019.1702898
  2. Mititoxic properties of Cucurma longa against a major contributor of oral mite anaphylaxis, the grain mite Suidasia pontifica vol.46, pp.5, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1080/01647954.2020.1802509
  3. Biological activities of Moringa oleifera Lam. against anthracnose of mango caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Penz. vol.53, pp.13, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1080/03235408.2020.1791479
  4. Bioactivities of Allium longicuspis Regel against anthracnose of mango caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) vol.10, pp.None, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-68399-z
  5. The Effect of Gaseous Ozone Generated by Surface Dielectric Barrier Discharge on the Decay and Quality of Stored Onion Bulbs vol.11, pp.6, 2018, https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11061058