Hass Avocado (Persea americana Mill) Peel Extract Reveals Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties against Verticillium theobromae, Colletotrichum musae, and Aspergillus niger Pathogens Affecting Musa acuminata Colla Species, in Ecuador

Author: mycolabadmin
9/23/2024
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Summary

Researchers tested whether avocado peel waste could help protect banana crops from fungal diseases. They extracted beneficial compounds from avocado peels and tested them against three harmful fungi that affect bananas. The results showed the extract worked best against one type of fungus and had good antioxidant properties, suggesting avocado peel could be a natural and sustainable way to protect banana crops.

Background

Avocado peel represents an agroindustrial waste product rich in bioactive compounds including polyphenols, triterpenes, and phytosterols. These compounds have demonstrated antioxidant and antimicrobial properties with potential applications in plant disease management. Banana crops in Ecuador face significant losses due to fungal pathogens affecting fruit quality and safety.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Hass avocado peel extracts against three fungal pathogens (Verticillium theobromae, Colletotrichum musae, and Aspergillus niger) that affect banana cultivation in Ecuador. The research investigated optimal extraction parameters and characterized the phenolic compounds responsible for bioactivity.

Results

The highest polyphenol content (138.47 mg GAE/g dry weight) was achieved with 80% ethanol at 90 minutes extraction. HPLC identified epicatechin (41.74%), chlorogenic acid (32.98%), and catechin (16.17%) as major compounds. Antifungal testing showed V. theobromae had highest sensitivity with 61.59% inhibition at 1000 ppm, while C. musae and A. niger showed lower inhibition rates of 35.67% and 27.59% respectively.

Conclusion

Hass avocado peel extracts demonstrate significant antioxidant activity and fungistatic effects against banana fungal pathogens, with V. theobromae being most susceptible. The phenolic compounds identified contribute to growth inhibition through cell membrane disruption and oxidative stress generation. These findings support the potential use of avocado peel as a sustainable, natural alternative for managing fungal diseases in banana cultivation.

Published in:Microorganisms,
Study Type:Experimental Study,
Source: PMID: 39338603