Bark Extract of Uncaria tomentosa L. for the Control of Strawberry Phytopathogens

Gray mold (Botrytis cinerea Pers.), crown and fruit rot (Phytophthora cactorum (Lebert Cohn) J.Schröt), verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae Kleb.) are among the main diseases that affect strawberry crop. In study presented herein, bark extract of Uncaria tomentosa (Willd. ex Schult.) DC, popularly known as “cat’s claw”, has been evaluated for its capability to act a sustainable control method. The bioactive compounds present in aqueous ammonia were characterized by gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy, antimicrobial activity extract—alone combination with chitosan oligomers (COS)—was assessed vitro coating postharvest treatment during storage. Octyl isobutyrate (30.7%), 19α methyl-2-oxoformosanan-16-carboxylate (9.3%), tetrahydro-2-methyl-thiophene (4.7%), α-methyl manofuranoside (4.4%) identified phytoconstituents. results growth inhibition tests showed that, upon conjugation COS, complete was reached at concentrations 39–93.75 μg∙mL−1 range, depending on pathogen. Concerning effect prolong storage life decay post-harvest storage, high protection observed concentration 1000 μg∙mL−1. Because this effectiveness, higher than attained conventional synthetic fungicides, extracts cat’s claw may hold promise crop protection.