Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Thermotherapy combined with alternative products in the management of melon rot caused by Fusarium falciforme

  • Published:
European Journal of Plant Pathology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In the search for efficient and sustainable methods for the management of Fusarium rot in melon, the present study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of the thermotherapy, whether it's used alone or in combination with alternative products to Magnate®, in melons inoculated with two isolates of Fusarium falciforme. The effect of the treatments on fruit quality was evaluated using physicochemical parameters, disease severity, and enzymatic analyses. The in vitro experiments showed that the lowest concentration (0.0625% v/v) of cinnamon essential oil was the most effective in controlling the mycelial growth of both isolates, demonstrating comparable effects to those observed with Copper Crop® and Magnate®. In the in vivo experiments, treating fruits with thermotherapy combined with Cooper Crop® greatly reduced melon rot decreased the damage caused by the two isolates of F. falciforme and was more effective than Magnate®. This treatment produced a lower level of hydrogen peroxide in the inoculated fruits, thereby maintaining cell membranes. It contains antifungal compounds inherent to its composition and exerts an influence on the enzyme’s peroxidase and polyphenoxidase, thereby inducing the defense mechanism of the fruit. Therefore, thermotherapy combined with Cooper Crop® can be used to manage melon rot as an alternative to Magnate®.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The data supporting this study are available from the corresponding author and will be shared upon request.

References

  • Abrafrutas. (2022). Melon of the caatinga for the world 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2023, from https://abrafrutas.org/2022/05/melao-da-caatinga-para-o-mundo/

  • Almagro, L., Gómez Ros, L. V., Belchi-Navarro, S., Bru, R., Ros Barceló, A., & Pedreño, M. A. (2009). Class III peroxidases in plant defense reactions. Journal of Experimental Botany, 60(2), 377–390. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/ern277

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Araújo, M. B. M. (2020). Species of Fusarium causing peduncular rot in melon in Brazil and alternative management methods (pp. 474–476). 91f [Thesis (PhD in (MS) Plant Science)]. Federal Rural University of the Semiarid. Retrieved December 10, 2022, from https://ppgfito.ufersa.edu.br/wpcontent/uploads/sites/45/2021/01/TESEMariaBrunaMedeiros477Ara%C3%BAjo-26-11-2020.pdf

  • Araújo, M. B. M., Moreira, G. M., Nascimento, L. V., Nogueira, Gd. A., Nascimento, S Rd. C., Pfenning, L. H., & Ambrósio, M. M. Q. (2021). Fusarium rot of melon is caused by several Fusarium species. Plant Pathology, 70(3), 712–721. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppa.13328

  • Ben Amor, N., Ben Hamed, K., Debez, A., Grignon, C. E., & Abdelly, C. (2005). Physiological and antioxidant responses of the perennial halophyte Crithmum maritimum to salinity. Plant Science, 168(4), 889–899. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2004.11.002

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Benato, E. A., Belletti, T. C., Terao, D., & Franco, D. A. S. (2018). Essential oils and heat treatment in the post-harvest control of green mold in (MS) orange. Summa Phytopathologica, 44(1), 65–71. https://doi.org/10.1590/0100-5405/175659

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bezerra Neto, E., & Barreto, L. P. (2011). Chemical and biochemical analysis in (MS) plants. CEP, 52171, 900.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campos, A. D., Ferreira, A. G., Hampe, M. M. V., Antunes, I. F., Brancão, N., Silveira, E. P., Osório, V. A., & Augustin, E. (2004). Peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activity in bean anthracnose resistance. Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira., 39(7), 637–643.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, X., Yang, Y., Zhu, X., Yuan, P., Gong, B., Ding, S., & Shan, Y. (2022). Inhibitory mechanisms of cinnamic acid on the growth of Geotrichum citri-aurantii. Food Control, 131, 108459. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2021.108459

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • de Quadros, F. M., Garcés-Fiallos, F. R., de Borba, M. C., de Freitas, M. B., & Stadnik, M. J. (2019). Fusarium oxysporum affects differently the hydrogen peroxide levels and oxidative metabolism in susceptible and resistant bean roots. Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology, 106, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmpp.2018.11.001

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Bellisai, G., Bernasconi, G., Brancato, A., Cabrera, L. C., Castellan, I., Del Aguila, M., Ferreira, L., Santonja, G. G., Greco, L., Jarrah, S., Leuschner, R., Magrans, J. O., Miron, I., Nave, S., Pedersen, R., Reich, H., Robinson, T., Ruocco, S., Santos, M., et al. (2023). Modification of the existing maximum residue levels for imazalil in courgettes, cucumbers, and gherkins. EFSA Journal European Food Safety Authority., 21(4), e07980. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7980

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fallik, E., Aharoni, Y., Copel, A., Rodov, V., Tuvia-Alkalai, S., Horev, B., Yekutieli, O., Wiseblum, A., & Regev, R. (2000). Reduction of post-harvest losses of Galia melon by a brief rinse with hot water. Plant Pathology, 49(3), 333–338. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3059.2000.00467.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freires, A. L. A., Figueiredo, F. R. A., Alves, T. R. C., Barroso, K. A., da Silva, I. V. P., Silva, J. L. S., de Almeida Nogueira, G., Melo, N. J. A., Júnior, R. S., Negreiros, A. M. P., & de QueirozAmbrósio, M. M. (2022). Alternative products in the management of powdery mildew (Podosphaera xanthii) in melon. Tropical Plant Pathology, 47(5), 608–617. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40858-022-00518-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • HF Brazil. (2023). MELÃO/CEPEA. Retrieved May 15, 2023, from https://www.hfbrasil.org.br/br/melao-cepea-exportacoes-recuam-em-fevereiro.aspx

  • La Torre, A., Iovino, V., & Caradonia, F. (2018). Copper in plant protection: Current situation and prospects. Phytopathologia Mediterranea, 57(2), 201–236.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, Y., Lin, H., Wang, H., Lin, M., Chen, Y., Fan, Z., Hung, Y. C., & Lin, Y. (2020). Effects of hydrogen peroxide treatment on pulp breakdown, softening, and cell wall polysaccharide metabolism in fresh longan fruit. Carbohydrate Polymers, 242, 116427. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116427

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maia, J. M., Ferreira-Silva, S. L., Voigt, E. L., Macêdo, C. ECd., Ponte, L. F. A., & Silveira, J. A. G. (2012). Activity of antioxidant enzymes and inhibition of cowpea root growth under different salinity levels. Acta Botanica Brasilica, 26(2), 342–349. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-33062012000200010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Møller, I. M., Jensen, P. E., & Hansson, A. (2007). Oxidative modifications to cellular components in plants. Annual Review of Plant Biology, 58, 459–481. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.arplant.58.032806.103946

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Murakami, K., Cruz, A. F., Pires, Md. C., Icuma, I. M., & Yamanishi, O. K. (2020). Effect of the environment and use of alternative products in the post-harvest of papaya. Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura, 42(3). https://doi.org/10.1590/0100-29452020505

  • Nabigol, A., & Morshedi, H. (2011). Evaluation of the antifungal activity of the Iranian thyme essential oils on the postharvest pathogens of strawberry fruits. African Journal of Biotechnology, 10(48), 9864–9869.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nazzaro, F., Fratianni, F., Coppola, R., & De Feo, V. (2017). Essential oils and antifungal activity. Pharmaceuticals, 10(4), 86. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph10040086

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Nganje, W. E., Bangsund, D. A., Leistritz, F. L., Wilson, W. W., & Tiapo, N. M. (2004). Regional economic impacts of Fusarium head blight in wheat and barley. Review of Agricultural Economics, 26, 332–347. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9353.2004.00183.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nogueira, G. A., et al. (2023). Aggressivity of different fusarium species causing fruit rot in Melons in Brazil. Plant Disease, 107(3), 886–892. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-04-22-0728-SR

  • Noshirvani, N., Ghanbarzadeh, B., Gardrat, C., Rezaei, M. R., Hashemi, M., Le Coz, C., & Coma, V. (2017). Cinnamon and ginger essential oils to improve antifungal, physical and mechanical properties of chitosan-carboxymethyl cellulose films. Food Hydrocolloids, 70, 36–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2017.03.015

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Palou, L., Ali, A., Fallik, E., & Romanazzi, G. (2016). GRAS, plant-and animal-derived compounds as alternatives to conventional fungicides for the control of postharvest diseases of fresh horticultural produce. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 122, 41–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2016.04.017

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Park, J. Y., Kim, S. H., Kim, N. H., Lee, S. W., Jeun, Y. C., & Hong, J. K. (2017). Differential inhibitory activities of four plant essential oils on in vitro growth of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae causing Fusarium wilt in strawberry plants. The Plant Pathology Journal, 33(6), 582–588. https://doi.org/10.5423/PPJ.OA.06.2017.0133

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Rodrigues, J. P., et al. (2021). Current technologies for the control of fungal diseases in (MS) postharvest papaya (Carica papaya L.). Biocatálise e Biotecnologia Agrícola, 36, 102128.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute. (2015). SAS/STAT 14.1 Software. Cary: SAS Institute Inc.

  • Silva, S. G. A., Costa, M. M., Cardoso, A. M. S., Nascimento, L. V., Barroso, K. A., Nunes, G. H. S., Pfenning, L. H., & Ambrósio, M. M. Q. (2023). Fusarium falciforme and Fusarium suttonianum cause root rot of melon in Brazil. Plant Pathology, 72(4), 721–730. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppa.13701

  • Terao, D., Nechet, K. L., Ponte, M. S., Maia, A. H. N., Anjos, V. D. A., & Halfeld-Vieira, B. A. (2017). Physical postharvest treatments combined with yeast on the control of Orange green mold. Scientia Horticulturae, 224, 317–323.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Terao, D., Nechet, Kd. L., Frighetto, R. T. S., Anjos, V. D. A., Benato, E. A., & Halfeld-Vieira, B. A. (2018). Postharvest physical treatments in the control of mango stem rot. Journal of Phytopathology, 166(7–8), 581–589. https://doi.org/10.1111/jph.12721

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Terao, D., et al. (2019). Ozonated water combined with heat treatment to control the stem- end rot of papaya. Scientia Horticulturae, 257, 108722. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2019.108722

  • Terao, D., Nechet, K. L., Frighetto, R. T. S., Anjos, V. D. A., Maia, A. H. N., & Halfeld-Vieira, B. A. (2021). Control of Fusarium rot in (MS) Melon Galia and preservation of fruit quality with UV-C radiation and hot water treatments. Tropical Plant Pathology, 46(3), 350–359. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40858-021-00432-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan, L., Bi, Y., Ge, Y., Wang, Y., Liu, Y., & Li, G. (2013). Postharvest hot water dipping reduces decay by inducing disease resistance and maintaining firmness in muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) fruit. Scientia Horticulturae, 161, 101–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2013.06.041

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the melon-producing farms (Brazil Melon and Dina Dinamarca) that provided the fruits for the study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ciências Agronômicas e Florestais, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido-UFERSA, Campos de Mossoró, 59.625-900, Mossoró, RN, Brazil

    Ana Santana de Medeiros, Tatianne Raianne Costa Alves, Jarlan Lucas dos Santos Silva, Ana Paula de Moura, Jailma Suerda Silva de Lima, José Janderson Ferreira de Souza, Mateus Araújo Vasconcelos de França, Juliano da Costa Fernandes, Luiz Fernando Bezerra Evangelista & Márcia Michelle de Queiroz Ambrósio

Authors
  1. Ana Santana de Medeiros
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tatianne Raianne Costa Alves
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jarlan Lucas dos Santos Silva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ana Paula de Moura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jailma Suerda Silva de Lima
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. José Janderson Ferreira de Souza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Mateus Araújo Vasconcelos de França
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Juliano da Costa Fernandes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Luiz Fernando Bezerra Evangelista
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Márcia Michelle de Queiroz Ambrósio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Coordinated the research project: (M. M. Q. A) and (A. S. M). Wrote the paper: (A. S. M) and (M. M. Q. A). Performed the experiment: (A. S. M), (T. R. C. A), (J. L. S. S), (A. P. M), (L. F. B. E), (J. J. F.S), (M. A. V. F), (J. C. F), and (M. M. Q. A). Performed the statistical analysis: (A. S. M) and (J. S. S. L). Approved the final version and revision of the manuscript: (M. M. Q. A) and (A. S. M). Both authors read and approved the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Márcia Michelle de Queiroz Ambrósio.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

de Medeiros, A.S., Costa Alves, T.R., dos Santos Silva, J.L. et al. Thermotherapy combined with alternative products in the management of melon rot caused by Fusarium falciforme. Eur J Plant Pathol (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-023-02805-w

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-023-02805-w

Keywords

Search

Navigation