The Effects of Zataria Multiflora Essential Oil on Some Characteristics of Sultana Table Grapes Contaminated with Botrytis cinerea

The object of this research was to find an alternative to fungicide for the prevention of postharvestfruits. Therefore the effect of Zataria multiflora essential oil on the quality of Sultana grapes followingthe harvest was investigated. The essential oil was extracted by hydro-distillation and analyzed using acombination of GC and GC/MS. The results indicated a high percentage of anti-fungal components such asThymol (44.4%) and Carvacrol (26.3%) in the extracted essential oil. The grapes were contaminated withBotrytis cinerea spores suspension at the concentration of 5×105 per ml sterile distilled water. The samples weretreated with suspension of 0 to 200 and 400 mgL-1 Zataria multiflora essential oil and stored at 4 °C. Sampleswere examined and experimental design in a completely randomized design with three replications wereemployed. The results revealed that by increasing the concentrations of the essential oil, the anti-fungal activityagainst Botrytis cinerea was increased.