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Essential oils from Algerian species of Mentha as new bio-control agents against phytopathogen strains

  • Chemistry, Activity and Impact of Plant Biocontrol products
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Abstract

Chemical composition and antifungal activity of essential oils of Algerian Mentha species were studied. Chemical compositions of different Mentha species oils (Mentha rotundifolia, M. spicata, M. pulegium, and M. piperita) were investigated by capillary GC and GC/MS, and their antifungal activities were evaluated by means of paper disc diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays. In total, 98 components from all Mentha species were identified. All oils were rich in monoterpene-oxygenated components. In addition, we reported fumigant antifungal activity of Algerian Mentha essential oils against four fungi: Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium expansum, Monilinia laxa, and M. fructigena. All oils demonstrated very good inhibition especially against B. cinerea, M. laxa, and M. fructigena. Both Monilinia fungi were extremely sensitive to all Algerian Mentha oils, which suggests that Mentha essential oils have the potential to be used as bio-pesticides to protect fruit trees, such as apple and pear trees, and provides an alternative to chemical pesticides.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are indebted to Fayçal HASSANI and Tawfik FEROUANI from University of Tlemcen, Laboratory of Ecology and Management of Natural Ecosystems, to botanical identification of all Mentha species.

The complement spectroscopic experiments have been performed using the “Biodiversité et Biotechnologies Marines” (Bio2Mar) facilities at the University of Perpignan.

The authors gratefully thank Jeanine ALMANY for providing the English language editing (as well as constructing comments) which improved the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Nassim Djabou.

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Benomari, F.Z., Andreu, V., Kotarba, J. et al. Essential oils from Algerian species of Mentha as new bio-control agents against phytopathogen strains. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 29889–29900 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9991-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9991-4

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