Evaluation of fungal diseases of strawberries (Fragaria vesca) and control methods based on essential oils

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Résumé

The strawberry (Fragaria vesca) is an emerging fruit crop in Burkina Faso with strong economic and nutritional potential, but its
sustainability is compromised by numerous fungal diseases that cause considerable losses both in the ϔield and post-harvest due to rot
and wilt. The objective of this study is to investigate the symptoms, identify the main pathogenic fungi associated with strawberry
cultivation in central Burkina Faso, and evaluate a control method based on essential oils. The methodology relies on ϔield surveys, the
collection of symptomatic leaves, followed by macroscopic and microscopic analyses after isolation in the laboratory. In vitro tests were
conducted with three essential oils Cymbopogon citratus, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, and Azadirachta indica at concentrations of 5%
and 15% to evaluate their antifungal potential against the isolated pathogens. Our work identiϔied three pathogens: Botrytis cinerea,
Mycosphaerella fragaria, and Aspergillus niger. These pathogens appear at different stages of plant growth and cause a range of
symptoms, from necrosis and chlorosis to leaf death. They reduce photosynthetic activity, cause premature leaf drop, and lead to fruit rot.
The three plant extracts demonstrated complete fungicidal efϔicacy. Speciϔically, Cymbopogon citratus, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, and
Azadirachta indica at concentrations of 5% and 15% completely inhibited the growth of Botrytis cinerea, Mycosphaerella fragaria, and
Aspergillus niger 72 hours after treatment. Understanding host-parasite-environment relationships, as well as the effectiveness of
certain plant extracts, offers potential solutions for implementing environmentally friendly control methods.

Mots-clés

Fragaria vesca, biological control, fungus, isolation, essential oil, symptomatology