Promising antifungal activity of two varieties of Capsicum chinense against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Rhizopus stolonifer and Colletotrichum goleosporoides

Abstract Peppers (Capsicum sp.) which belong to the Solanaceae family constitute an important segment in the vegetable sector, both in agriculture and in the food industry. This paper aims to investigate in vitro antifungal activity of hexane extracts from Capsicum chinense fruit (unripe bode pepper – ‘HE-UB’ – and ripe little beak pepper – ‘HE-RB’) against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Rhizopus stolonifer and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Antifungal activity was evaluated by the disk diffusion method (DDM) at doses between 25 µL and 300 µL of both diluted extracts. Chemical analyses revealed that the major constituent in both extracts was E-caryophyllene. HE-RB inhibited 100% of S. sclerotiorum, R. stolonifer and C. gloeosporioides growth at doses of 200 µL, 100 µL and 300 µL, respectively. HE-UB also inhibited 100% of fungal growth at doses of 100 µL (S. sclerotiorum), 150 µL (C. gloeosporioides) and 200 µL (R. stolonifer). HE-RB and HE-UB were active against the fungi under study; thus, screening of medicinal plants provides another alternative to produce chemical fungicides that are relatively non-toxic and cost-effective.