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Antimicrobial activity of sophorolipids produced by Starmerella bombicola against phytopathogens from cherry tomato.

BACKGROUND
Phytopathogenic microorganisms are the main cause of plant diseases, generating significant economic losses for the agricultural and food supply chain. Cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) are very perishable plants and highly demanding in the use of pesticides, therefore alternative solutions, such as biosurfactants, have aroused as a potent substituent. The main objective of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of sophorolipids against the phytopathogens Botrytis cinerea, Sclerotium rolfsii, Rhizoctonia solani and Pythium ultimum.


RESULTS
The biosurfactant inhibited the mycelial growth in vitro with a minimum concentration of 2 mg.mL-1 . The application of sophorolipids at 1, 2 and 4 mg.mL-1 in detached leaves of tomato before the inoculation of the fungus B. cinerea was the best treatment, reducing the leaf necrosis by up to 76.90%. The use of sophorolipids in washing tomato fruits before the inoculation of B. cinerea was able to inhibit the development of gray mold by up to 96.27%.


CONCLUSION
The results for tomato leaves and fruits revealed that the biosurfactant acts more effectively when used preventively. Sophorolipids is a stable molecule and has shown promise action for a potential replacement of pesticides in the field and the post-harvest process against the main tomato phytopathogens. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.