Control of papaya anthracnose with essential oil and laurel hydrolate (Laurus sp.)

Abstract

Anthracnose is a disease that probably occurs in all tropical and subtropical regions where
papaya is grown. Which causes significant post-harvest losses in papaya, being one of the
factors limiting the export of the fruit. The objective of this study was to evaluate, in vitro, the
essential oil and laurel hydrolyzate (Laurus sp.) At concentrations of 0.10; 0.50; 1.25; 2.25
and 4.0 μL.mL-1 on the mycelial growth of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides of papaya. In Petri
dishes containing potato-dextrose-agar medium, added with oil or hydrolate, in the respective
concentrations, a disc containing the structures of the fungus was deposited. In the control,
the phytopathogen was placed only in BDA. The experiment was completely randomized in a
factorial scheme with four replications. The average diameter of the colonies was evaluated for
five days. The essential oil of laurel, in the two highest concentrations, reduced the average
diameter of the colonies of the fungus. There was no effect of the hydrolate on the mycelial
growth of C. gloeosporioides. The essential oil of laurel, in the two highest concentrations, reduced
the average diameter of the colonies of the fungus.