ACTIVIDAD ANTIFÚNGICA In Vitro DE ACEITES ESENCIALES DE MOLLE (Schinus molle) Y MUÑA (Minthostachys mollis GRISEB) SOBRE Botrytis cinerea

Botrytis cinerea is a phytopathogenic fungus that causes economic losses in the agroindustrial field. Essential oils (EOs) are an alternative for the control of this microorganism and protection of fruit and vegetable products. The objective of this research was to determine the in vitro antifungal activity of the EOs from molle (Schinus molle) and muña (Minthostachys mollis Griseb) plants on B. cinerea. For this purpose, a completely randomized block experimental design with 5 treatments and 3 replicates was applied. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and the Minimum Fungicide Concentration (CMF) were determined, working with concentrations of 0.02%; 0.05%; 0.40%; 1.60%; 6.30% of EOs of molle, muña and combined (molle:muña of 70:30; 80:20 and 90:10), which were applied on B. cinerea. Using the Krustall Wallis statistical test, it was found that the muña EO had better fungicidal activity than molle. The muña EO presented an MIC and MFC against B. cinerea at 0.05% and 0.1%, respectively. The molle EO did not report MIC and MFC against B. cinerea at any of the concentrations tested. Likewise, the 80:20 and 90:10 combinations reported MIC and MFC at concentrations of 3.2% and 1.6%, respectively. It is concluded that the muña EO presents inhibitory and fungicidal activity at concentrations of 0.05% and 0.1% respectively against B. cinerea, whereas molle presents antifungal activity only when combined with the muña EO.