Zizyphus spina-christi L. has antimicrobial properties because of the presence of biologically active compounds. Alternaria is an opportunistic pathogen that causes leaf spots, rots, and blights on a variety of plant parts. This study aimed to reduce the usage of synthetically derived fungicides. Identification of the bioactive components present in leaves and fruits methanolic extracts of Z. spina-christi was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The efficacy of the two methanol extracts was tested against (a) in vitro fungal growth and (b) pathogenicity control on non-wounded and wounded tomato fruits. The results revealed that gallic acid and ellagic acid were the major components in leaves extract while quercetin was the major component in fruits extract. In addition, Phenol, 2,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) (40.24%) and Decane, 2-methyl-(18.53%) were the most abundant components in the leaf extract, and the presence of D-mannonic acid, 2,3,5,6-tetrakis-o-(trimethylsilyl), and γ-lactone (22.72%) were major components in fruits extract. The methanolic extracts of Z. spina-christi leaves and fruits demonstrated significant antifungal activity against the growth of Alternaria alternata, A. citri, and A. radicina with variable inhibition percentages at different concentrations. Pathogenicity was increased when the skin was injured, as expected. Both extracts reduced the percentage of infected fruits.

Sewage sludge improves agricultural soil and plant growth, but there are risks associated with its use, including high heavy metal content. In this study, experiments were carried out to investigate the role of endophytic Talaromyces pinophilus MW695526 on the growth of Triticum aestivum cultivated in soil amended with sewage sludge and its phytoremediation ability. T. pinophilus could produce gibberellic acid (GA) and stimulate T. aestivum to accumulate GA. The results showed that inoculation with T. pinophilus boosted plant growth criteria, photosynthetic pigments, osmolytes (soluble proteins, soluble sugars and total amino acids), enzymatic antioxidants (catalase, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase), K, Ca and Mg. On the other hand, it reduced Na, Na/K ratio, Cd, Ni, Cu and Zn in the growth media as well as in the shoot and root of T. aestivum. The results suggest that endophytic T. pinophilus can work as a barrier to reduce the absorption of heavy metals in T. aestivum cultivated in soil amended with sewage sludge.

Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) are one of the main crops grown in Egypt. The fungal black spot illness of fruits is usually associated with the secretion of mycotoxin by Alternaria toxigenic species. Twenty Alternaria isolates were isolated from infected tomatoes fruits by baiting technique, morphologically identified to species level, and confirmed using Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) gene sequencing. ITS gene sequencing of fragments obtained 547, 547, 542, 554, and 547 bp for A. alternata, A. brassicicola, A. citri, A. radicina, and A. tenuissima, respectively. Alternaria species were investigated for mycotoxin production using the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique. The data from the HPLC analysis showed that the mycotoxins were determined in four out of five Alternaria species, with the incidence ranging from 0.89–9.85 µg/mL of fungal extract at different retention times. Alternaria alternata was the most active species and produced three types of toxins. Polyketide synthase genes (pksH and pksJ) which are involved in the Alternaria toxin’s biosynthesis were also amplified from the DNA of Alternaria species.

Strawberries are susceptible to decay and destruction while being harvested and stored. This study had the following objectives: (1) the documentation of fungi and mycotoxin production associated with infected strawberry fruits; (2) the evaluation of the primary phytochemicals of Sargassum cinereum and Padina boergesenii by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis to identify the active chemical composition of the seaweed extracts; and (3) the assessment of the antifungal activity of five extracts from brown seaweeds both in vitro and in vivo against fungal infections on fresh fruit under post-harvest conditions. The most common fungi were Aspergillus niger 14.36%, Botrytis cinerea 38.29%, and Mucor irregularis 16.88%. Padina boergesenii acetone extract had the highest in vitro antifungal activity. The methanol extracts of both S. cinereum and P. boergesenii were effective against the pathogenicity and aggressiveness (in vivo) on post-harvest strawberry fruits. B. cinerea could produce botrydial and dihydrobotrydial toxins with concentrations of 8.14 µg/mL and 4.26 µg/mL, respectively. A. niger could produce ochratoxin A with a concentration of 10.05 µg/mL. The present study demonstrates that the extracts of macroalgae S. cinereum and P. boergesenii contain secondary metabolites and antioxidants, indicating their potential utilization in antifungal applications.

The present study aimed to identify the active chemical compounds, mainly phenolic acids, of Champia parvula and Moringa oleifera, evaluate the pharmacokinetic properties of their primary compounds, and assess a novel method for the biocontrol of blue mold by evaluating the antifungal activity of both extracts. Gas chromatography (GC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were utilized to identify the active chemical compounds, mainly phenolic acids. GC illustrated the presence of long-chain aliphatic fatty acids like eicosanoic acid with the formation of oct-1-en-3-ol compounds attached. Catechin was the main bioactive component among the several bioactive compounds identified by HPLC analysis, exhibiting favorable pharmacokinetic behavior, including good absorption, distribution, and metabolic stability. According to the findings, both extracts had antifungal activity, but C. parvula extract (100 mg/mL) exhibited the strongest in vitro and in vivo antifungal activity, with the highest percentages of inhibition (disk diffusion method) against Penicillium expansum, Penicillium crustosum, and Talaromyces atroroseus, ranging between 62.67 and 100%. C. parvula extract (100 mg/mL) could fully inhibit the pathogenicity and aggressiveness of the five tested strains in apple fruits (in vivo). In conclusion, the extract from C. parvula and M. oleifera shows potential antifungal properties and a high phytochemical content.

Background: Apples are important for human nutrition because these provide vital nutrients, including vitamins and minerals, that are needed for a balanced diet. A suitable environment for the growth and survival of various microorganisms is also provided by multiple nutrients, such as carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and amino acids. Penicillium spp. are the cause of blue mold, one of the most common postharvest apple fruit diseases. Using morphological description and ITS gene sequencing, the current study aimed to identify Penicillium isolates associated with infected apple. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to demonstrate these isolates' capability for producing mycotoxins. Results: The initial identification of fungi was based on micromorphological characteristics, growth texture, and colony patterns. Penicillium (35.01%) and Talaromyces (15.62%) were the most prevalent fungal genera. These isolates' morphological identity was validated by ITS gene amplification and sequencing. The generated fragments' ITS gene sequencing values were 477, 480, 510, 478, and 478 bps for Penicillium expansum strain AP1, Penicillium crustosum strain AP2, Talaromyces atroroseus strain AP3, Penicillium expansum strain AP4, and Penicillium expansum strain AP5, respectively. It was examined whether the five isolates could produce citrinin and patulin. The highest value of toxins was recorded for patulin (24180 ppb), that produced by P. expansum AP5, followed by P. crustosum AP2 (19360 ppb). However, the highest value for citrinin was 24890 ppb detected for P. expansum AP4, followed by P. expansum AP5 (19320 ppb). Conclusion: Blue mold caused by Penicillium expansum, Penicillium crustosum, and Talaromyces atroroseus. These isolates have the ability to produce citrinin and patulin with different degrees. So blue mold is one of the most harmful diseases in post-harvest apple fruits.