<b>Insecticide/ Pesticide</b>

Abstract

The scientists at Mexico isolated allyl, benzyl, 2-phenylethyl and phenyl isothiocyanates in a ratio of 1:3.5:5.3:9.6, respectively, in cabbage leaves through solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The same proportion was used to prepare an isothiocyanate mixture from reagent grade isothiocyanates (MCIT) to test the effect on <i>Alternaria alternata</i> growth <i>in vitro</i>. Application of 0.28 and 0.56 mg/ml of MITC, with or without packing in low density polyethylene bags (LDPE), were also tested on bell pepper fruit inoculated with <i>A. alternata</i>, using a commercial fungicide as positive control. A concentration of 0.03 mg/ml of MITC inhibited 100% <i>Alternaria</i> growth <i>in vitro.</i> A treatment with 0.56 mg/ml of MCIT with LDPE bags performed better than the commercial fungicide to control fungi rot on bell pepper with no adverse effects on fruit quality. MCIT combined with LDPE bag showed potential to control <i>Alternaria</i> rot on bell pepper [Troncoso R, EspinozaC, Sánchez-Estrada A, TiznadoME and GarcíaHugo S, Analysis of the isothiocyanates present in cabbage leaves extract and their potential application to control <i>Alternaria</i> rot in bell peppers, <i>Food Res Int</i>, 2005, <b>38</b>(6), 701-708].