title: Potential use of cuminic acid as a botanical fungicide against Valsa mali.
abstract: Valsa canker caused by Valsa mali is commonly present in eastern Asia and cause large economic losses. Because of limited agricultural measures and chemical residues of commonly used fungicides there is an urgent need of alternative plant protecting agents. On this background the activity of cuminic acid, a plant extract from the seed of Cuminum cyminum L, was assessed. The median effective concentration (EC50) values for inhibition of mycelial growth of seven V. mali strains ranged from 3.046 to 8.342 μg/mL, with an average EC50value of 4.956 ± 0.281 μg/mL. The antifungal activity was the direct activity of cuminic acid instead of the influence on the pH of media by cuminic acid. After treated with cuminic acid, mycelia dissolved with decreased branches and swelling; cell membrane permeability increased while pectinases activity decreased significantly. Moreover, peroxidase (POD) activity of the apple leaves increased after treated with cuminic acid. Importantly, on detached branches of apple tree, cuminic acid exhibited both protective and curative activity. These results indicated that cuminic acid not only showed the antifungal activity, but also could improve the defense capacity of the plants. Taken together, cuminic acid showed the potential as a natural alternative to commercial fungicides or a lead compound to develop new fungicides for the control of Valsa canker.
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Center of Biorational Pesticides, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Center of Biorational Pesticides, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Center of Biorational Pesticides, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Engineering and Research Center of Biological Pesticide of Shaanxi Province, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: LiRong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Center of Biorational Pesticides, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Engineering and Research Center of Biological Pesticide of Shaanxi Province, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Center of Biorational Pesticides, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; Engineering and Research Center of Biological Pesticide of Shaanxi Province, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China. Electronic address: jtfeng@126.com.
authors.forename: Juntao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D028527:Cuminum / Q000737:chemistry; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D027845:Malus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D025282:Mycelium / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D019815:Oxalic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000187:drug effects; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D011096:Polygalacturonase / Q000187:drug effects; D004718:Saccharomycetales / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000472:pathogenicity
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D003470:Culture Media; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019815:Oxalic Acid; D009195:Peroxidase; D011096:Polygalacturonase
keywords: Apple valsa canker; Botanical fungicide; Cuminic acid; Disease management; Mode of action