The Effects of Zataria Multiflora Essential Oil on Some Characteristics of Sultana Table Grapes Contaminated with Botrytis cinerea

ABSTRACT: The object of this research was to find an alternative to fungicide for the prevention of post-harvest fruits. Therefore the effect of Zataria multiflora essential oil on the quality of Sultana grapes following the harvest was investigated. The essential oil was extracted by hydro-distillation and analyzed using a combination of GC and GC/MS. The results indicated a high percentage of anti-fungal components such as Thymol (44.4%) and Carvacrol (26.3%) in the extracted essential oil. The grapes were contaminated with Botrytis cinerea spores suspension at the concentration of 5×105 per ml sterile distilled water. The samples were treated with suspension of 0 to 200 and 400 mgL-1 Zataria multiflora essential oil and stored at 4 °C. Samples were examined and experimental design in a completely randomized design with three replications were employed. The results revealed that by increasing the concentrations of the essential oil, the anti-fungal activity against Botrytis cinerea was increased.