This study tested the efficacy of plant essential oils (EOs) for controlling rot in post-harvest peaches. Three fungal pathogens from naturally infected peaches were isolated and identified, and their pathogenicity was confirmed on peach fruit. Monilinia fructicola was the most pathogenic of the three isolates (M. fructicola, Penicillium expansum and P. spinulosum). The antifungal effects of four EOs (tea tree oil (TTO), thyme oil, rosemary oil, and lemon oil) were then evaluated against M. fructicola. TTO had the strongest antifungal activity against M. fructicola in vitro and in inoculated peach fruit. Experiments designed to probe the antifungal mechanisms of TTO revealed that the EO affects the composition of the M. fructicola cell membrane, leading to changes in mycelial morphology, membrane permeability, and levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species. Based on these results, we conclude that TTO is effective against infection by M. fructicola in post-harvest peaches. TTO should be considered as a viable substitute for conventional fungicides that are currently used to control rot in peach.

这项研究测试了植物精油（EOs）防治桃子采后腐烂的功效。从自然感染的桃中分离并鉴定了三种真菌病原体，并在桃果实上证实了它们的致病性。在三个分离株（M. fructicola，Penicillium expansum和P. spinulosum）中，念珠菌是致病性最强的。四个EO（茶树油（TTO），百里香，迷迭香油，柠檬油）的抗真菌效果进行再评估对M.腐病菌。TTO在体外对果蝇分支杆菌具有最强的抗真菌活性并接种桃子果实。旨在探究TTO的抗真菌机制的实验表明，EO影响果蝇分枝杆菌细胞膜的组成，导致菌丝体形态，膜通透性和细胞内活性氧水平的变化。基于这些结果，我们得出结论，TTO是对抗感染的有效M.腐病菌在收获后的桃子。TTO应该被认为是目前用来控制桃腐烂的常规杀菌剂的可行替代品。