ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF SOME PLANT EXTRACTS AGAINST Botrytis cinerea Pers. IN THE BLACKCURRANT CROP (Ribes nigrum L.)

There were tested and screened, in vitro and in vivo, for the first time in Romania, nine respectively six plant extracts manufactured by Hofigal S.A. against Botrytis cinerea (strain Bc 27) isolated from blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.). The highest antibotrytis in vitro activity (efficiency between 80 and 100%) was obtained using the following extracts: Hyssopus officinalis (at 20, 10 and 5%), Satureja hortensis, Allium sativum, Tagetes patula (at 20 and 10%) and Mentha (at 20%). A moderate antibotrytis activity (efficiency between 35.7 and 65.7%) has been noticed for Mentha (at 10 and 5%), Satureja hortensis, Allium sativum and Tagetes patula (at 5%) extracts. The lowest antibotrytis activity or no efficiency was noticed using extracts obtained from Achillea folium, Artemisia dracunculus 'saliva', Rosmarinus officinalis and Valeriana officinalis even applied at 20%. Based on results obtained in in vitro tests, six plant extracts were tested and screened in vivo, under field conditions at Hofigal S.A. Bucharest. Satureja hortensis, Allium sativum, Hyssopus officinalis, Menthaand Tagetes patula extracts have been efficient in limiting gray mold severity in blackcurrant applied at 10% compared to untreated control. No in vivo activity was registered for Valeriana officinalis extract. Plant extracts with highly efficiency can be recommended as a non-polluting and environmental-friendly alternative (organic horticulture) in the protection of blackcurrant as medicinal crop against grey mould, the most economically important disease in Europe at present.