Efficacy of Beta vulgaris Essential Oils Against Potato Dry Rot Disease and Deoxynivalenol (DON) Mycotoxin

AbstractPotato dry rot is a global problem caused by Fusarium species. Symptoms of dry rot include wrinkled brown to black patches of tissue. Fusarium spp. infection in potato tubers results in the formation of mycotoxins. Fungi that cause dry rot are commonly Fusarium sambucinum and Fusarium solani. This article was made to determine the effect of the essential oils of the Beta vulagaris plant on Fusarium species, which is the causative agent of dry rot in potatoes. In the study, Beta vulgaris plant essential oil content was determined by Gas Chromatography (GC–MC). In addition, the amount of deoxynivalenol (DON) mycotoxin produced by Fusarium species was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analyses. Inhibition rates of these essential oils (1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000 µl) on Fusarium sambicunum (1.3, 3.0, 5.2, 7.3, 9.1, 12.7, 22.3, 27.1, 29.1%) were found. Similarly, inhibition rates on Fusarium solani (1.1, 2.8, 4.3, 6.7, 8.8, 10.5, 19.4, 24.7, 27.3%) were found. In addition, the results showed that the amount of deoxynivalenol DON in 25 potato tubers ranged from 44.1–172.6 ppb. Infections of potato tubers caused by certain Fusarium species are typically accompanied by mycotoxin production, thus posing a potential risk to human health and food safety. In this study, it was determined that the essential oils of Beta vulgaris plant were effective against Fusarium spp., which are the cause of dry rot disease that may occur in potatoes.