AZADIRACHTA INDICA EXTRACT EFFECT AGANIST APPLE BLUE MOLD CAUSED BY PENICILLIUM EXPANSUM

Background and Aim:The objectives of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Neem methanolic and aqueous extracts as an alternative to replace the synthetic fungicide to control blue mold of apple caused by Penicillium expansum. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Neem on blue mold apple on blue mold apple invitro and invivo conditions.Methods:In this research, the paper of aqueous and methanolic extracts of Azadirachta indica were studied to control the apple blue mold caused by P. expansum, in vitro and in vivo. In vitro assays included the use of the paper disk and the extracts mixture with medium tests. Finally, the extracts was used in the 4 ° C storage agonist pathogen-infected apples.Results:The result of paper disk test showed the 20.66 and 19.79 mm of inhibition zone diameter, for methanolic and aqueous extract, respectively, compared to control (2mm diameter). The result of the mixed extract with media tests showed the aqueous and methanolic extracts of Thyme inhibit with the rate of 56.69 and 45.28 percent of the pathogen were respectively, in comparison with the control. In vivo test, the spot surface, in the treatment of aqueous and alcoholic extracts with a concentration of 6× 1000, reduced 68.12 and 57.18%, respectively, as compared to the control treatment.Conclusion:Based on the our results, the extract of Neem could control the apple blue mold in viro and in vivo, and it can present as the suitable alternative instead of chemical fungicide.

Keywords:

Blue mold , Cold storage , paper disk method , Neem extract