Comparative study on the action of S‐(+)‐carvone, <i>in situ</i> , on the potato storage fungi <i>Fusarium solani</i> var. <i>coeruleum</i> and <i>F. sulphureum</i>

Abstract

Growth of Fusarium sulphureum was inhibited by S‐(+)‐carvone administered via the gas phase. Under the same conditions, the related fungus F. solani var. coeruleum was not inhibited. In liquid medium, both fungi were found to convert S‐(+)‐carvone with the same rate, mainly into isodihydrocarvone, isodihydrocarveol and neoisodihydrocarveol. Only a slight difference in the relative amounts of the bioconversion products was observed. Since the bioconversion products did not inhibit the growth of the fungi to the same extent as S‐(+)‐carvone, the process can be considered as a detoxification mechanism. The bioconversion as such cannot account for the observed difference in growth inhibition.