Practical Application of Dioscorea quinqueloba Extract for the Control of Citrus Green Mold

This study tested the antifungal compound obtained from a medicinal plant, Dioscorea quinqueloba Thunb., in order to search the possibility of practical application of this product in agriculture through evaluating its activity using the citrus fruits. The extract of D. quinqueloba Thunb., which has the strongest antifungal activity, was selected as a candidate among 101 plant extracts. Based on this examination concerning antifungal activity of the product on Penicillium digitatum in vitro, it was confirmed its effect of mycelial growth inhibition showed over 87% at 0.5 mg/ml concentration. This natural product showed the stability of the substance, as it was not significantly influenced by pH, temperature, or ultraviolet radiation. While citrus fruits were stored at room temperature, P. digitatum was inoculated into them in order to prepare a similar environmental conditions with epidemic occurrence of the mold. As the result of our investigation, the disease preventive effects of the active antifungal substance evidenced a 100% at 0.5 mg/ml. When the phytotoxicity of the selected natural product on citrus at 2 mg/ml was assessed, we noted no toxic effects. Based on the superior preventive effects from this natural product extracted from the plant, it is presumed to be very useful in agricultural applications for the control of green mold, P. digitatum, which has been occurred often the biggest problem in the storage of citrus fruits.