@Article{phyton.2026.078088,
AUTHOR = {Hajar Zennouhi, Rachid Ez-zouggari, Mamadou Traoré, Abderrahim Lazraq, Saadia Belmalha, Rachid Lahlali},
TITLE = {Evaluation of the Antifungal Activity of Aqueous Extracts of <i>Corrigiola telephiifolia</i> and <i>Marrubium vulgare</i> against Major Post-Harvest Citrus Diseases},
JOURNAL = {Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany},
VOLUME = {95},
YEAR = {2026},
NUMBER = {4},
PAGES = {--},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/phyton/v95n4/67205},
ISSN = {1851-5657},
ABSTRACT = {Citrus fruits are highly susceptible to post-harvest diseases such as green rot (<i>Penicillium digitatum</i>), blue rot (<i>P. italicum</i>), and sour rot (<i>Geotrichum citri-aurantii</i>), causing significant economic losses. Due to the risks associated with synthetic fungicides and the emergence of resistant strains, natural alternatives are needed. This study evaluated the antifungal activity of aqueous extracts of <i>Corrigiola telephiifolia</i> and <i>Marrubium vulgare</i>. <i>In vitro</i> tests were conducted using PDA medium with extract concentrations of 12.5–100 mg/mL and <i>in vivo</i> assays were performed on artificially wounded oranges with the same extract concentrations. <i>In vitro</i> tests showed strong inhibition of mycelial growth and spore germination, with <i>C. telephiifolia</i> reducing pathogen growth by over 70–89%. <i>In vivo</i> assays confirmed its effectiveness, completely preventing green rot at 12.5 mg/mL and significantly reducing sour rot. Phytochemical analysis revealed high levels of polyphenols and flavonoids in <i>C. telephiifolia</i>. These findings suggest that aqueous extracts of <i>C. telephiifolia</i> are a safe and sustainable alternative to synthetic fungicides for managing post-harvest citrus diseases.},
DOI = {10.32604/phyton.2026.078088}
}