Control of Postharvest Gray Mold at Strawberry Fruits Caused by Botrytis cinerea and Improving Fruit Storability through Origanum onites L. and Ziziphora clinopodioides L. Volatile Essential Oils

The present research was undertaken to study the antifungal activities of Origanum onites L. and Ziziphora clinopodioides L. essential oils against three different isolates (M1-5, M2-1 and M3-5) of Botrytis cinerea (in vitro tests) and to investigate the vapor contact impacts on fungus and strawberry fruit quality (in vivo tests). Antifungal activities of these oils were tested by following the poisoned food technique at four different concentrations (0.25, 0.50, 1.00 and 2.00 mL/L) against B. cinerea. In vitro studies suggested that the 0.50 mL/L and 1.00 mL/L doses of O. onites and 1.00 mL/L and 2.00 mL/L doses of Z. clinopodioides provide high mycelial growth inhibition, 85.29–94.12% and 39.12–94.12%, respectively, by direct addition to food. Thus, these doses were tested in in vivo conditions, as a vapor contact treatment against two isolates (M1-5 and M3-5) of B. cinerea inoculated on strawberry cv. Camarosa fruits. Results showed that both O. onites and Z. clinopodioides essential oils have a moderate to high impact on the prevention of gray mold. The oils were also found to have a slight to moderate impact on weight loss and the loss of soluble solids concentration. Overall, the results demonstrated that the tested oils are a potential biodegradable alternative to fungicides.