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Application of thymol and iprodione to control garlic white rot (Sclerotium cepivorum) and its effect on soil microbial communities

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Abstract

The effect of different dosages of thymol alone, iprodione alone and combinations of thymol and iprodione on white rot disease of garlic and its impact on soil microbial community structure were investigated under greenhouse conditions. Thymol alone or in combination with the fungicide iprodione did not appear to reduce either white rot incidence or soil sclerotia density as compared to an infected control. However, iprodione alone or in combination with thymol reduced soil fungal biomass. In addition, iprodione alone decreased soil microbial activity as estimated by fluorescein diacetate (FDA). Soil bacterial community structure as estimated by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles was also was affected by both thymol and iprodione applications. The correlation biplot of the individual PLFAs and biocide treatment indicated that the treatments with thymol alone increased cyclopropyl fatty acid (cy17:0 and cy19:0), while the treatments with iprodione alone increased some saturated and branched fatty acids (principally i16:0, a15:0 and 18:0). In addition, taking into account PLFA biomarkers, thymol applications reduced Gram-negative bacteria in soil. To our knowledge, this research is the first report about the effect of a monoterpene (thymol) on soil microflora.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, X 5016 GCA, Córdoba, Argentina

    Guadalupe G. Miñambres, Romina A. Verdenelli, José M. Meriles & Julio A. Zygadlo

  2. Laboratorio de Terapéutica Vegetal, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, X 5016 GCA, Córdoba, Argentina

    Martha Y. Conles

  3. Cátedra de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, X 5016 GCA, Córdoba, Argentina

    Enrique I. Lucini

  4. Cátedra de Química Orgánica y Productos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal, CONICET, Avenida Vélez Sársfield 1611, X 5016 GCA, Córdoba, Argentina

    José M. Meriles & Julio A. Zygadlo

Authors
  1. Guadalupe G. Miñambres
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  2. Martha Y. Conles
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  3. Enrique I. Lucini
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  4. Romina A. Verdenelli
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  5. José M. Meriles
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  6. Julio A. Zygadlo
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Correspondence to José M. Meriles.

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Miñambres, G.G., Conles, M.Y., Lucini, E.I. et al. Application of thymol and iprodione to control garlic white rot (Sclerotium cepivorum) and its effect on soil microbial communities. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 26, 161–170 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-009-0155-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-009-0155-7

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