Selahvarzi, T., Abedy, B., & Beikzadeh, N. (2024). The impact of Osage orange fruit and leaf aqueous and ethanolic extracts on Erwinia amylovora, the cause of apple and pear fireblight. Plant Pathology Science, 13(1), 75-88.
Fire blight caused by Erwinia amylovora is one of the most important diseases of apple and pear trees in the world. The purpose of this research was to determine the antibacterial effect of the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the fruit and leaf of the Osage orange (Maclura pomifera) against the cause of this disease. The effect of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of leaf and fruit of this plant on the growth of
E. amylovora colony in eight concentrations was tested by disk diffusion method. Antioxidant activity and total phenol of these extracts were also measured. The experiment was conducted as a factorial in a completely randomized design with four replications for each treatment in laboratory conditions. The results showed that the type of extract and plant organ are effective in the antibacterial properties, antioxidant activity, and the amount of total phenol. The ethanolic extract of the fruit, at a concentration of 1000 mg/ml with an average diameter 5.57 mm inhibitory halo had the highest inhibitory effect against E. amylovora, antioxidant activity, and total phenol content, while the aqueous extract of the fruit and the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the leaf weren't significantly effective. Therefore, the ethanolic extract of Osage orange fruit has an inhibitory effect on the growth of E. amylovora colony and can be considered as a natural compound in the management of the disease.
