The effect of acetic, formic and propionic acids on plant pathogenic fungi

Abstract

The efficiency of low or non-toxic chemicals is alternatives to fungicide usage. Especially, GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) compounds are quite suitable to prevent plant disease development. Propionic, formic and acetic acid were selected to state antifungal activities on some soilborne plant pathogens that are in the GRAS chemicals list. GRAS compounds were tested on, Macrophomina phaseolina, Botrytis cinerea, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizoctonia solani to understand the efficiencies of organic acids on the plant pathogen development. The mycelial growth inhibition of propionic, formic and acetic acids was determined. Minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFC) of the organic compounds were stated also. Propionic was significantly better than formic and acetic acid. Propionic acid at 0.7%, formic acid at 0.9% and acetic acid at 1.8% concentration was totally inhibited mycelial growth of all fungi, respectively. Organic compounds efficiency was variable and shown a different impact on fungi based on their resistance. B. cinerea, S. sclerotiorum and F. oxysporum resistance was higher than R. solani and M. phaseolina.