OnlineFirst Articles
Research Papers

Agricultural by-products from asparagus and date palm affect Phytophthora cinnamomi: potential for control of oak root disease

PDF
  • Rosa LÓPEZ GARCÍA,
  • María Teresa HIDALGO FERNÁNDEZ,
  • Marta GARCÍA GARCÍA,
  • Rocío RODRÍGUEZ-ARCOS,
  • Ana JIMÉNEZ-ARAUJO,
  • Maria Socorro SERRANO MORAL
Rosa LÓPEZ GARCÍA
Grupo de Recursos genéticos, mejora y protección del olivo y otros cultivos leñosos (UCOLIVO), Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad de Córdoba, Spain
Bio
María Teresa HIDALGO FERNÁNDEZ
Grupo de Recursos genéticos, mejora y protección del olivo y otros cultivos leñosos (UCOLIVO), Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad de Córdoba, Spain
Bio
Marta GARCÍA GARCÍA
Grupo de Recursos genéticos, mejora y protección del olivo y otros cultivos leñosos (UCOLIVO), Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad de Córdoba, Spain
Bio
Rocío RODRÍGUEZ-ARCOS
Grupo de Fitoquímicos y Calidad de los Alimentos, Departamento de Fitoquímica de los Alimentos, Instituto de la Grasa (IG-CSIC), Spain
Ana JIMÉNEZ-ARAUJO
Grupo de Fitoquímicos y Calidad de los Alimentos, Departamento de Fitoquímica de los Alimentos, Instituto de la Grasa (IG-CSIC), Spain
Maria Socorro SERRANO MORAL
Grupo de Recursos genéticos, mejora y protección del olivo y otros cultivos leñosos (UCOLIVO), Departamento de Agronomía, Universidad de Córdoba, Spain
Bio
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/phyto-17270

Published 2026-07-19

Keywords

  • Anti-oomycete activity,
  • extracts,
  • phenolic compounds,
  • residues,
  • root rot

How to Cite

[1]
LÓPEZ GARCÍA R., HIDALGO FERNÁNDEZ M. T., GARCÍA GARCÍA M., RODRÍGUEZ-ARCOS R., JIMÉNEZ-ARAUJO A., and M. S. SERRANO MORAL, “Agricultural by-products from asparagus and date palm affect Phytophthora cinnamomi: potential for control of oak root disease”, Phytopathol. Mediterr., pp. 231–242, Jul. 2026.

Copyright (c) 2026 Rosa LÓPEZ GARCÍA, María Teresa HIDALGO FERNÁNDEZ, Marta GARCÍA GARCÍA, Rocío RODRÍGUEZ-ARCOS, Ana JIMÉNEZ-ARAUJO, Maria Socorro SERRANO MORAL

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC

Funding data

Abstract

As society demands healthier food production, agricultural residues could provide sustainable alternatives for plant disease control, as these residues are reservoirs of fungicidal compounds. This study aimed to identify the activity of six plant extracts and their corresponding crude residues against plant pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi. Extracts enriched in bioactive compounds came from residues of asparagus spears (AS), fronds (AF) or roots (AR); olive tree fruit (OF) or leaves (OL), and seeds of date palm fruits (DS). In vitro experiments showed that all the asparagus extracts at 0.025 and 0.05% significantly decreased P. cinnamomi mycelial growth, with inhibition percentages greater than 75% for AS and AR. The AS, OL and DS extracts at 0.05% inhibited P. cinnamomi sporangial production by >84%. Phytotoxicity symptoms were not detected for any of the extracts assessed. In planta experiments were carried out to compare effects of soil application of AS and DS organic extracts with their crude residues at 0.05% against disease caused by P. cinnamomi on Quercus ilex seedlings. The AS residue was statistically more effective than the AS extracts, while DS residue and extract inhibited root rot symptoms to levels similar to the uninfested controls. Therefore, extracts and residues from seeds from date fruits, and residues from asparagus spears, are candidates for control P. cinnamomi root rot. Both residues are being tested in an infested field of Q. ilex adult trees.

PDF

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

  1. Ahmad H., Matsubara Y.I., 2020. Antifungal effect of Lamiaceae herb water extracts against Fusarium root rot in Asparagus. Journal of Plant Disease and Protection 127: 229–236. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41348-019-00293-x
  2. Al-Tamimi A., Alfarhan A., Rajagopal R., 2021. Antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activities of polyphenols extracted from different Saudi Arabian date cultivars against human pathogens. Journal of Infection and Public Health 14: 1783–1787. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jiph.2021.10.006.
  3. Antón-Domínguez B., Sánchez-Pereira L., Lamas, S., Rodrigues N., Baptista P. Agustí-Brisach C., 2025. Carob and pomegranate extracts enhance plant defence mechanisms against olive anthracnose through antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds production. Industrial Crops & Products 235: 121653. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2025.121653.
  4. Bokhari N. A., Perveen K., 2012. In vitro inhibition potential of Phoenix dactylifera L. extracts on the growth of pathogenic fungi. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research 6: 1083–1088. https://doi.org/10.5897/jmpr11.1545.
  5. Borjan D., Leitgeb M., Knez Ž., Hrnčič M. K., 2020. Microbiological and Antioxidant Activity of Phenolic Compounds in Olive Leaf Extract. Molecules 25: 5946. https://doi.org/10.3390/MOLECULES25245946.
  6. Bowers J.H., Locke J. C., 2004. Effect of Formulated Plant Extracts and Oils on Population Density of Phytophthora nicotianae in Soil and Control of Phytophthora Blight in the Greenhouse. Plant Disease 88: 11–16. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS.2004.88.1.11.
  7. Brasier C. M., 1996. Phytophthora cinnamomi and oak decline in southern Europe. Environmental constraints including climate change. Annals of Forest Science 53: 347–358. https://doi.org/10.1051/forest:19960217.
  8. Burgess T. I., Scott J. K., Mcdougall K. L., Stukely M. J. C., Crane C., …, Hardy G. E. S. J. , 2017. Current and projected global distribution of Phytophthora cinnamomi, one of the world’s worst plant pathogens. Global Change Biology 23: 1661–1674. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13492.
  9. Campbell C. L., Madden L. V., 1990. Introduction to Plant Disease Epidemiology. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, U.S.A, 532 pp.
  10. Cenobio-Galindo A. J., Hernández-Fuentes A. D., González-Lemuè U., Zaldívar-Ortega A. K., González-Montiel L., … Hernández-Soto I., 2024. Biofungicides Based on Plant Extracts: On the Road to Organiz Farming. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 25: 6879. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25136879.
  11. Cruz A., Sánchez-Hernández E., Teixeira A., Martín-Ramos P., Cunha, A., Oliveira R., 2024. Antifungal and Antioomycete Activities of a Curcuma longa L. Hydroethanolic Extract Rich in Bisabolene Sesquiterpenoids. Horticulturae 10: 124. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10020124.
  12. Del Río J. A., Báidez A. G., Botía J. M., Ortuño A., 2003. Enhancement of phenolic compounds in olive plants (Olea europaea L.) and their influence on resistance against Phytophthora sp. Food Chemistry 83: 75–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0308-8146(03)00051-7.
  13. Desoukey S. F., El-Nahas S. E. M., Sabh A. Z., Taha Z. K., El-Shabrawi H. M., 2020. Antimicrobial effect of Asparagus officinalis L. extracts. Plant Archives 20: 9253–9264. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348265502.
  14. Fuentes-Alventosa J. M., Jaramillo S., Rodríguez-Gutiérrez G., Cermeño P., Espejo J. A., … Rodríguez-Arcos R., 2008. Flavonoid profile of green asparagus genotypes. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 56: 6977-6984. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf8009766
  15. Fuentes-Alventosa J. M., Jaramillo-Carmona S., Rodríguez-Gutiérrez G., Guillén-Bejarano R., Jiménez-Araujo A., … Rodríguez-Arcos R., 2013. Preparation of bioactive extracts from asparagus by-product. Food and Bioproducts Processing 91: 74–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbp.2012.12.004.
  16. Garbelotto M., Hüberli D., Shaw,D., 2006. First report on an infestation of Phytophthora cinnamomi in natural oak woodlands of California and its differential impact on two native oak species. Plant Disease 90: 685-685.
  17. Global Invasive Species Database, 2025. Available at: http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/100_worst.php. Accessed 20 October 2025
  18. González M., Romero M. A., Serrano M. S., Sánchez M.E., 2020. Fosetyl-aluminium injection controls root rot disease affecting Quercus suber in southern Spain. European Journal of Plant Pathology 156: 101–109. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-019-01865-1.
  19. Goufo P., Fontem D. A., Ngnokam D., 2010. Evaluation of plant extracts for tomato late blight control in Cameroon. New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science 38: 171–176. https://doi.org/10.1080/01140671.2010.495374
  20. Hassan M. A. E., Bereika M. F. F., Abo-Eìnaga H. I. G., Sallam,M. A. A., 2009. Direct Antimicrobial Activity and Induction of Systemic Resistance in Potato Plants Against Bacterial Wilt Disease by Plant Extracts. The Plant Pathology Journal 25: 352–360. https://doi.org/10.5423/PPJ.2009.25.4.352.
  21. Jaramillo-Carmona S., Rodríguez-Arcos R., Jiménez-Araujo A., López S., Gil J., … Guillén-Bejarano R., 2017. Saponin profile of wild asparagus species. Journal of Food Science 82: 638–646. https://doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.13628.
  22. Lawrence S. A., Burgess E. J., Pairama C., Black A., Patric, W. M., … Gerth M. L., 2019. Mātauranga-guided screening of New Zealand native plants reveals flavonoids from kānuka (Kunzea robusta) with anti-Phytophthora activity. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 49: 137–154. https://doi.org/10.1080/03036758.2019.1648303.
  23. López R., Hidalgo M. T., García M., Rodríguez R., Jiménez A., Serrano M. S., 2025. Efectividad diferencial de extractos de espárrago frente a la podredumbre radical causada por Phytophthora cinnamomi. Cuadernos de La Sociedad Española de Ciencias Forestales 51: 173–186. https://doi.org/10.31167/csef.v0i51.20161.
  24. Lujan P., Dura S., Guzman I., Grace M., Lila M. A., … Sanogo S., 2021. Efficacy of Pecan Husk and Shell Phenolic Extracts Against Phytophthora Blight in Chile Pepper. Plant Health Progress 22: 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-02-21-0024-FI.
  25. Mrabet A., Hamdi A., Rodríguez-Arcos R., Guillén-Bejarano R., Jiménez-Araujo A., 2024. Date seed by-products as source of bioactive ingredient for healthy cookies. Food Bioscience 61: 104543. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbio.2024.104543.
  26. Nagar D., Biswas S. K., Singh M., Singh J., 2017. Evaluation of in vitro Efficacy of Different Plant Extracts against Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences 6: 412–417. https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2017.606.048.
  27. Pangallo S., Destri-Nicosia M. G., Agosteo, G. E., Abdelfattah A., Romeo F. V., … Schena L., 2017. Evaluation of a Pomegranate Peel Extract as an Alternative Means to Control Olive Anthracnose. Phytopathology 107: 1462–1467. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-04-17-0133-R.
  28. Ribeiro O. K., 1978. A Sourcebook on the Genus Phytophthora. Lehre, Germany, J. Cramer, 417 pp.
  29. Ríos P., Obregón S., Haro A., Fernández-Rebollo P., Serrano M.S., Sánchez M.E., 2016. Effect of Brassica biofumigant amendments on different stages of the life cycle of Phytophthora cinnamomi. Journal of Phytopathology 164: 582–594. https://doi.org/10.1111/jph.12482.
  30. Rodríguez G., Rodríguez R., Fernández-Bolaños J., Guillén R., Jiménez A., 2007. Antioxidant activity of effluents during the purification of hydroxytyrosol and 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl glycol from olive oil waste. European Food Research and Technology 224: 733–741. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-006-0366-1.
  31. Romero M. A., Rodríguez-Arcos R., Jiménez-Araujo A., Serrano M. S., 2022. Revalorización de residuos agrícolas como herramientas de biocontrol de la podredumbre radical causada por Phytophthora cinnamomi. In: Proceedings of XX Meeting of the Spanish Phytopathological Society, 24-26 October, 2022, Valencia, Spain, 161 (abstract).
  32. Romero M. A., López R., Rodríguez-Arcos R., Jiménez-Araujo A., Serrano M. S., 2024. Anti-oomycete activity of asparagus and olive by-products with potential to control Phytophthora cinnamomi root rot. Journal of Plant Pathology 106: 1685–1696. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42161-024-01696-y.
  33. Romero M.A., Sánchez J.E., Jiménez J.J., Belbahri L., Trapero A., Lefort F., Sánchez M.E., 2007. New Pythium taxa causing root rot on Mediterranean Quercus species in South-West Spain and Portugal. Journal of Phytopathology 155: 289–295. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0434.2007.01230.x.
  34. Rosado-Álvarez C., Molinero-Ruiz L., Rodríguez-Arcos R., Basallote-Ureba M. J., 2014. Antifungal activity of asparagus extracts against phytopathogenic Fusarium oxysporum. Scientia Horticulturae 171: 51–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2014.03.037.
  35. Sales M. D. C., Costa H. B., Fernandes P. M. B. Ventura J. A., Meira D. D., 2016. Antifungal activity of plant extracts with potential to control plant pathogens in pineapple. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropic Biomedicine 61: 26–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apjtb.2015.09.026.
  36. Saltos-Rezabala L. A., Ricardino Da Silveira P., Gonçalves-Talavares D., Intra-Moreira, S., Alves-Magalhães T., … Alves E., 2022. Thyme Essential Oil Reduces Disease Severity and Induces Resistance against Alternaria linariae in Tomato Plants. Holticulturae 8(10): 919. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8100919.
  37. Sánchez M.E., Caetano P., Ferraz J., Trapero A., 2002. Phytophthora disease of Quercus ilex in south‐western Spain. Forest Pathology 32: 5–18. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1439-0329.2002.00261.x.
  38. Sena K., Crocker E., Vincelli,P., Barton C., 2018. Phytophthora cinnamomi as a driver of forest change: Implications for conservation and management. Forest Ecology and Management 409: 799–807. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2017.12.022.
  39. Serrano M. S., de Vita P., Fernández-Rebollo P., Sánchez-Hernández M. E., 2012a. Calcium fertilizers induce soil suppressiveness to Phytophthora cinnamomi root rot of Quercus ilex. European Journal of Plant Pathology 132: 271–279. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-011-9871-6.
  40. Serrano M. S., Fernández-Rebollo P., De Vita P., Sánchez, M. E., 2012b. Susceptibility of common herbaceous crops to Phytophthora cinnamomi and its influence on Quercus root rot in rangelands. European Journal of Plant Pathology 134: 409–414. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-012-9999-z.
  41. Serrano-Pérez P., Palo C., Rodríguez-Molina M. C., 2017. Efficacy of Brassica carinata pellets to inhibit mycelial growth and chlamydospore germination of Phytophthora nicotianae at different temperatures regimes. Scientia Horticulturae 2016: 126-133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2017.01.002
  42. Serrano-Pérez P., De Santigado A., Rodríguez-Molina M. C., 2021. Biofumigation with pellets of defatted seed meal of Brassica carinata: factors affecting performance against Phytophthora nicotianae in pepper crops. Frontiers in Sustanaible Food Systems 5: 664531. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.664531
  43. Sparg S. G., Light M. E., van Staden J., 2004. Biological activities and distribution of plant saponins. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 94: 219–243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2004.05.016.
  44. Tucuch-Perez M. A., Arredondo-Valdes R., Hernandez-Castillo F.D., 2020. Antifungal activity of phytochemical compounds of extracts from Mexican semi-desert plants against Fusarium oxysporum from tomato by microdilution in plate method. Nova Scientia 12: 1–9.