Effect of different plant extracts and their antimicrobial properties against Penicillium expansum and shelf life of apple

Abstract

Six crude plant extracts of lantana, tridax, coleus, lemongrass, neem and tulsi were evaluated against Penicillium expansum the cause of blue mould disease of apple was evaluated for their inhibitory effect both in vitro and in vivo during the storage condition. Shelf life of apple was also evaluated while using this plant extracts. The concentration of 5000 ppm from ethanolic extract of tulsi showed highest inhibition of pathogen and it reached 71.11% followed by neem 66%. Then minimum weight loss percent and TSS percent was shown by apple treated with ethanolic tulsi extract at 5000 ppm concentration. In vivo experiment treating fruits with different plant extracts at 5000 ppm concentration showed reduced lesion diameter in apples treated with Penicillium expansum. Maximum shelf life in apple was shown by fruits treated with ethanolic tulsi extract at 5000 ppm concentration upto 14 days. Then qualitative phytochemical analysis of ethanolic tulsi extract was carried out and it showed presence of different phytochemicals. Plant extracts was having remarkable usage in future against pathogen and it will surely replace synthetic fungicide usage.