Essential Oils as an Antifungal Alternative for the Control of Various Species of Fungi Isolated from Musa paradisiaca: Part I

Author: mycolabadmin
8/5/2025
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Summary

Researchers tested six essential oils from common kitchen herbs to see if they could prevent banana spoilage caused by fungi. They found that cinnamon oil was especially effective, stopping fungal growth at relatively low concentrations. This research suggests that natural essential oils could replace harsh chemical fungicides in farming, making bananas safer for consumers and better for the environment.

Background

Bananas are highly perishable climacteric fruits with significant post-harvest losses primarily due to fungal infections caused by pathogens such as Colletotrichum spp., Lasiodiplodia spp., Fusarium spp., and Aspergillus spp. Current control relies on synthetic fungicides, raising concerns about environmental impact, fungicide resistance, and consumer health. Essential oils from aromatic plants have demonstrated antimicrobial properties and represent a promising sustainable alternative.

Objective

This study evaluated the antifungal potential of six commercially available essential oils (oregano, rosemary, clove, thyme, cinnamon, and basil) against fungal pathogens isolated from infected banana peels. The research aims to assess whether these oils can effectively inhibit fungal growth under in vitro and ex vivo conditions as eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic fungicides.

Results

Cinnamon essential oil showed the highest antifungal activity, inhibiting all five fungal species at 400 ppm concentration. Other oils demonstrated moderate effects at higher concentrations: rosemary at 600 ppm, oregano at 800 ppm, and clove at 1000 ppm. Overall inhibition rates increased with concentration, reaching maximum efficacy of 96.7% at 1000 ppm across all oils tested.

Conclusion

Essential oils demonstrate significant potential as sustainable alternatives to synthetic fungicides for post-harvest banana management. Cinnamon oil emerges as the most promising candidate due to its superior efficacy at lower concentrations. Future research should assess economic viability and practical impacts of large-scale applications to facilitate adoption in commercial agriculture.

Published in:Microorganisms,
Study Type:In Vitro and Ex Vivo Experimental Study,
Source: PMID: 40871331, DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms13081827