Eco-Friendly Management of Botrytis cinerea Causing Gray Mold in Pomegranate

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is an important fruit being grown in Pakistan and throughout world. Its wonderful cultivars are naturally flavored with sweet taste juice. Pathogens invade the fruit under favored conditions and cause economic losses. The most important postharvest disease in pomegranate fruits is gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea. This study aims utilization of eco-friendly essential oils against gray mold disease in fruit. According to In-vitro test, of coconut (Cocos nucifera), rose (Rosa sp.), sesame (Sesamum indicum), clove (Syzygium aromaticum) and cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) on Pomegranate exhibited strong effect on B. cinerea. Oils exhibited antifungal activity on the causal pathogen and tested through contact as well as volatile phase with different concentrations inhibiting the fungal growth of Botrytis cinerea as compare to control. In vitro experiment results showed that essential oils like clove followed by cinnamon oils with 9% concentration completely suppressed the growth of mycelial fungus causing gray mold disease in pomegranate. While In vivo experiment showed that the essential oil cinnamon followed by clove oil at 9% concentration suppressed the fungus causing gray mold in pomegranate