The Efficacy of Nature-Friendly Chemicals Eugenol and Sodium Bicarbonate against Post-Harvest Botrytis cinerea in Two Pepper Cultivars

Abstract

Grey mold, caused by Botrytis cinerea, is the most important pre-harvest and post-harvest disease of pepper. The disease leads to huge losses in quality and yield of pepper. Synthetic fungicides should not be used because of their harmful residues in the fruits postharvest. Hence, alternative chemicals have gained more importance for human health now-a-days. In this study, the postharvest effectiveness of eugenol and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) to B. cinerea was determined on two pepper varieties, ‘Demre’ and ‘Charleston’ obtained from pepper fields in Çanakkale. In essay the Eugenol was used at dosages of 0.75 and 1.5%, while sodium bicarbonate was used at dosages of 0.5 and 1.0%. Pepper varieties ‘Demre’ and ‘Charleston’ showed significantly different sensitivities against grey mold disease (P < 0.01), and this case reflected also to the efficacies of alternative chemicals. During eight days of storage, Charleston was more sensitive to B. cinerea than ‘Demre’ peppers. NaHCO3 at high dosage (1.0%) completely inhibited the disease on ‘Charleston’ and ‘Demre’ peppers. The lower dose of NaHCO3 (i.e., 0.5%) was also highly effective in ‘Demre’ (providing 95% reduction in the disease) but its efficacy was a little lower for ‘Charleston’ variety (84%). Efficacy (83.7%) of eugenol at dosage of 1.5% to B. cinerea on ‘Demre’ was found to be like NaHCO3 at dosage 0.5% on ‘Charleston’ peppers. Alternative chemicals had no adverse effects on pepper varieties. It is concluded that both tested nature-friendly chemicals (Eugenol and sodium bicarbonate) could be used (postharvest) against to B. cinerea on peppers.