Anti-Phytophthora cinnamomi activity of Phlomis purpurea plant and root extracts

• Published in: European journal of plant pathology Vol. 138; no. 4; pp. 835 - 846
• Main Authors: Neves, Dina, Caetano, Paula, Oliveira, Joana, Maia, Cristiana, Horta, Marília, Sousa, Nelson, Salgado, Marco, Dionísio, Lídia, Magan, Naresh, Cravador, Alfredo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer-Verlag 01-04-2014; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agriculture; Biocontrol; Biomedical and Life Sciences; decline; Disease reduction; Disease spread; Ecology; Ethanol; forest habitats; germination; greenhouses; inoculum; Lamiaceae; Life Sciences; Oomycetes; Pathogens; Phlomis; Phytophthora cinnamomi; Plant diseases; Plant extracts; Plant Pathology; Plant Physiology; Plant resistance; Plant Sciences; Quercus ilex; Quercus ilex subsp. rotundifolia; Quercus suber; Root rot; viability; växtfysiologi; Zoospores; Iberian Peninsula; Portugal; Disease reduction; Zoospores; Root rot; Biocontrol
• ISSN: 0929-1873; 1573-8469; 1573-8469
• DOI: 10.1007/s10658-013-0357-6

Phlomis purpurea (Lamiaceae), found in Quercus suber and Quercus ilex ssp. rotundifolia forest habitats in southern Portugal, is a non-host for the oomycete Phytophthora cinnamomi, the main biotic factor involved in cork oak and holm oak decline in the Iberian Peninsula. The effect of P. purpurea crude ethanol root extract was evaluated in vitro on P. cinnamomi mycelial growth, sporangial production, zoospore release and germination as well as on chlamydospore production and viability. The protection of cork oak against infection by the pathogen was also evaluated in planta. At 10 mg ml⁻¹, in vitro inhibition of the pathogen structures was 85–100 %. In addition, P. purpurea plants were shown to protect Q. suber and Q. ilex from P. cinnamomi infection and to reduce the inoculum potential in glasshouse trials, indicating the ability to reduce root infection by the pathogen. The results suggest that P. purpurea has the potential to reduce disease spread and that their root extracts could provide candidate substances for control of the important pathogen, P. cinnamomi.