Antifungal Activity of Phenolic Compounds Extracted from Dried Olive Pomace

The antifungal activity of phenolic compounds extracted from olive pomace against Alternaria solani, Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium culmorum was investigated. Olive pomace, a by-product of olive oil production, was used as a source of phenolic compounds. The extracted phenolics were added to a medium to reach phenol concentration of 0.1 and 0.2 % (w/v) and tested for their antifungal activity against the three fungi. In addition, the fungi were cultivated in a medium containing a commercial fungicide in the concentration of 0.2 % (w/v). Both of the phenolic concentrations inhibited the growth of all three fungi with the higher being more effective. It resulted in a four-fold reduction of the mycelial growth rate of A. solani and F. culmorum. The present study demonstrated that the phenolic compounds derived from olive pomace hold a good promise as a natural fungicide against common pathogens to crops.