Evaluación in vitro del efecto antifúngico del aceite de hierba Luisa (Cymbopogon citratus) microencapsulado frente a Cladosporium fulvum Cooke

Abstract

The lemon verbena plant (Cymbopogon citratus) has leaves that are very aromatic and elongated. It is the main producer of essential oils which allow it to carry out protective functions against pathogens. Due to its tranquilizing, antibacterial and antifungal properties, it is used in agriculture, food and medicine The present study focused on evaluating the antifungal effect of microencapsulated lemon verbena (C. citratus) essential oil against the pathogen Cladosporium fulvum Cooke. For this purpose, an in vitro methodology was developed using different concentrations of the microencapsulated oil and compared with a control group. The results obtained revealed that the microencapsulated lemon verbena oil showed a potent antifungal effect on C. fulvum. A significant inhibition of mycelial growth was observed at all concentrations evaluated, demonstrating its ability to combat the development of the pathogen. In addition, an analysis of the morphological characteristics of the treated colonies was carried out, where a marked alteration in texture and color was evidenced, suggesting a direct impact of the oil on the fungal structures. These findings suggest that microencapsulated lemon verbena (C. citratus) essential oil could be a promising alternative for the biological control of C. fulvum in future agricultural and crop protection projects. This research provides clear evidence of the antifungal potential of microencapsulated lemon verbena (C. citratus) oil against C. fulvum, which could represent a natural and sustainable solution for the control of this pathology in agriculture.