Melissa officinalis L. as a sprout suppressor in Solanum tuberosum L. and an alternative to synthetic pesticides

Authors: ZHELJAZKOV, VALTCHO - Oregon State University; MICALIZZI, GIUSEPPE - University Of Messina; YILMA, SOLOMON - Oregon State University; Cantrell, Charles; Reichley, Amber; MONDELLO, LUIGI - University Of Messina; SEMERDJIEVA, IVANKA - Bulgarian Academy Of Sciences; RADOUKOVA, TZENKA - Plovdiv University

Submitted to: Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/13/2022
Publication Date: 10/28/2022
Citation: Zheljazkov, V.D., Micalizzi, G., Yilma, S., Cantrell, C.L., Reichley, A.C., Mondello, L., Semerdjieva, I., Radoukova, T. 2022. Melissa officinalis L. as a sprout suppressor in Solanum tuberosum L. and an alternative to synthetic pesticides. Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.2c05942.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.2c05942

Interpretive Summary: Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the fourth most important staple crop in the world. Potato dormancy and sprouting needs to be managed in order to extend storage and preserve potato quality. Sprouting of stored potatoes is controlled by the application of sprout inhibiting chemicals mainly chlorpropham (CIPC, isopropyl 3-chlorocarbanilate). However, CIPC was phased out in the European Union due to its negative effect on human health. The goal of this research was to screen plant essential oils (EO) as sprout inhibitors or suppressors in potato. The results indicated that Melissa officinalis L. EO inhibited sprouting, while Coriandrum sativum L. seed oil and the EO blend of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. and Salvia sclarea L. suppressed sprouting. Pure compounds identified in the fractions did not show the same sprout suppression activity compared to the fractions. Melissa officinalis whole EO may be utilized for the development of new commercial products for sprout control of potato. Such products would reduce toxic chemical residues in potato and contribute to improved human and environmental health.

Technical Abstract: The goal of this research was to screen plant essential oils (EOs) as sprout inhibitors or suppressors in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Three controlled environment experiments were conducted to screen 18 EOs and several pure compounds as sprout inhibitors. The EOs were applied using the wicked method on potato cv. Gala in 19 L plastic containers. The results indicated that Melissa officinalis L. EO inhibited sprouting, while Coriandrum sativum L. seed oil and the EO blend of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. and Salvia sclarea L. suppressed sprouting. The EOs of interest were analyzed using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and/or a flame ionization detector (GC-FID); the detailed chemical profiles are provided. The M. officinalis EO was fractionated into seven fractions, and these were tested on minitubers. We identified two fractions (F and A) that suppressed potato sprouting better than the whole oil. The GC-MS-FID analyses of M. officinalis EO fraction A identified myrcene, Z-ocimene, E-ocimene, trans-caryophyllene, and a-humulene as the main constituents, while the main constituents of fraction F were a-terpineol, ß-citronellol, and geraniol. The pure isolated compounds, together with the major compound in M. officinalis EO (citral), were tested for sprout suppression on three potato cultivars (Ranger Russet, Terra Rosa, and Dakota TrailBlazer), which revealed that ß-citronellol reduced the sprout length and the number of sprouts in all three cultivars, while citral and (+)-a-terpineol reduced the sprout length and the number of sprouts in Ranger Russet relative to the two controls in all three cultivars. Myrcene had a stimulating effect on the number of sprouts in Cv. Terra Rosa. However, none of the pure compounds suppressed sprouting completely or were comparable to the EO of M. officinalis.