As the RIA News", scientists from Tyumen State University (Tyumen State University), as part of a research team, studied how peptide extracts of medicinal plants affect parasitic organisms that infect potatoes. Horsetail extract is recognized as promising for the fight against parasites. The results of the work were published in the journal "Plants".
As the authors of the publication note, plant diseases caused by mycelial organisms (oomycetes) are a serious problem for agriculture around the world. One of these diseases - late blight - affects potatoes and tomatoes. The causative agent of the disease oomycete phytophthora (Phytophthora infestans) causes leaf necrosis, decomposition of tubers and plant death in potatoes.
“A common way to combat late blight is to treat potatoes with pesticides. However, pathogenic microorganisms are becoming more and more resistant to chemicals. Therefore, scientists are looking for alternative methods of plant protection ", - said one of the authors of the study, the head of the" youth "scientific laboratory of antimicrobial resistance, candidate of biological sciences Alexei Vasilchenko.
According to the scientist, natural extracts obtained from plants used in medicine are a promising addition to chemical pesticides. Their use will reduce the amount of pesticide residues in food and the environment. In addition, the cost of integrated plant protection can be reduced.
A team of researchers from the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry named after M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Russian Academy of Sciences, Research Institute for the Research of New Antibiotics named after G.F. Gauze, the All-Russian Institute for Plant Protection, the Institute of Ecological and Agricultural Biology (X-BIO) of Tyumen State University and the Russian State Agrarian University (Moscow Agricultural Academy named after K.A.Timiryazev) studied the effect of seven medicinal plants on phytophthora.
For the experiment were selected large celandine (Chelidonium majus); elecampane high (Inula helertium); horsetail (Equisetum arvense); laurel (Laurus nobilis); green tea (Camellia sinensis); St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum).
The potato tubers were cut into discs and processed with extracts. The scientists then observed the germination of phytophthora in vitro using optical microscopy.
The results indicate the ability of the peptide extracts to suppress the onset of phytophthora symptoms (necrotic spots and spore-like layers) within 144 hours after potato disc treatment, the researchers said.
The most pronounced effect was shown by peptide extract from common horsetail. Thus, according to the authors of the article, a candidate was selected for the role of an active substance for the development of a new biopesticide.
The research was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (grant No. 19-76-30005) and the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (grant No. 18-34-20058). Research is carried out on the topic "Biosafety of humans, animals and plants" of the West Siberian interregional REC.