Antifungal effect of gaseous nitric oxide on mycelium growth, sporulation and spore germination of the postharvest horticulture pathogens, Aspergillus niger, Monilinia fructicola and Penicillium italicum.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the antifungal activity of nitric oxide (NO) against the growth of the postharvest horticulture pathogens Aspergillus niger, Monilinia fructicola and Penicillium italicum under in vitro conditions.


RESULTS
Different volumes of NO gas were injected into the Petri dish headspace to obtain the desired concentrations of 50-500 microl l(-1). The growth of the fungi was measured for 8 days of incubation in air at 25 degrees C. All concentrations of NO were found to produce an antifungal effect on spore germination, sporulation and mycelial growth of the three fungi, with the most effective concentration for A. niger and P. italicum being 100 and 500 microl l(-1) for M. fructicola.


CONCLUSIONS
Short-term exposure to a low concentration of NO gas was able to inhibit the subsequent growth of A. niger, M. fructicola and P. italicum.


CONCLUSIONS
NO gas has potential use as a natural fungicide to inhibit microbial growth on postharvest fruit and vegetables.
Lazar
E E
EE
Gosford Horticultural Institute, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Gosford, NSW, Australia. elena.lazar@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Wills
R B H
RB
Ho
B T
BT
Harris
A M
AM
Spohr
L J
LJ
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000187:drug effects; D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000187:drug effects; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D005740:Gases / Q000494:pharmacology*; D025282:Mycelium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010407:Penicillium / Q000187:drug effects; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000187:drug effects*
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D005740:Gases; D009569:Nitric Oxide