Plant Safety, Horticultural Benefits, and Disease Efficacy of Essential Oils for Use in Organically Grown Fruit Crops: from the Farm to the Consumer
Project Director
Ali Sarkhosh
Year Funded
2020
Award Number
2020-51300-32181
Funded Institution
University of Florida
Grant Program
OREI (Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative)
USDA NIFA Report
Project Overview
Laboratory, greenhouse, and field experiments were conducted to evaluate NOP-allowed plant essential oil (EO) products in managing pre- and post-harvest fungal and bacterial diseases that impact organic production of blueberry, peach, avocado, mango, and other temperate and tropical fruits. Products based on thyme oil and tea tree oil were tested for efficacy against multiple pathogens and arthropod pests (scale, thrips, and mites) and crop phytotoxicity.
Farmer Takeaways
(1) Commercially available, NOP-allowed plant essential oil (EO) fungicides include ThymeGuard (thyme oil), Timorex Act (tea tree oil), and Cinnerate (cinnamon oil).
(2) In field trials, copper (Kocide 2000) controlled multiple pathogens of peach, blueberry, mango, and avocado, while EO fungicides were largely ineffective.
(3) Postharvest fumigation with thyme oil or dipping in ThymeGuard solution reduced brown rot of peach, but treatment concentration and duration must be adapted to peach cultivar to avoid damaging the fruit.
(4) Post-harvest nanotechnologies (nanocoatings, encapsulation of active compounds, nanosensors) show promise but need additional research into human health safety.
Project Outputs
Chang, Y., Ferreira, M. D., Correa, D. S., Teodoro, K. B. R., Procopio, F. R., Brexó, R. P., Sarkhosh, A., & Brecht, J. K. (2025). Advances in postharvest nanotechnology: Enhancing fresh produce shelf life and quality to reduce losses and waste. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 222, 113397.
Chang, Y., Boukari, W., Riley, S. S., Harmon, P. F., Sarkhosh, A., & Brecht, J. K. (2024). In Vitro Antifungal Activity of White Thyme, Oregano, and Savory Oils Against Five Monilinia fructicola Isolates from the Southeastern United States. Plant Health Progress, 25(3), 262–269.
Gañán-Betancur, L., Crane, J. H., Schaffer, B., Vargas, A. I., Sarkhosh, A., & Gazis, R. (2024). Essential Oils for Managing Anthracnose in Mango (Mangifera indica): Laboratory Results Do Not Translate into Field Efficacy. Plant Disease, 108(10), 3033–3043.
Chang, Y., Harmon, P. F., Treadwell, D. D., Carrillo, D., Sarkhosh, A., & Brecht, J. K. (2022). Biocontrol Potential of Essential Oils in Organic Horticulture Systems: From Farm to Fork. Frontiers in Nutrition, 8.