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Antimicrobial activity evaluation of citronella essential oil and its synergy with snake venom for the control of phytopathogens in the agro-food industry
and worldwide, affecting food production and, consequently, competitiveness, food security, and food sovereignty. Infections caused by phytopathogens account for between 20% and 40% of global agricultural production losses due to plant diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of citronella essential oil (AEC) and its synergistic effect with antimicrobial peptides. AEC was extracted by steam distillation and its antimicrobial activity was assessed against Pectobacterium sp. and Xanthomonas campestris using the broth microdilution assay. Different concentrations of AEC were analyzed both alone and in combination with a biofilm formulated by the research team. In addition, the antibacterial potential of AEC mixed with venoms from three snake species (Micrurus mipartitus, Micrurus dumerilii, and Bothrops asper), previously identified as sources of antibacterial compounds, was tested. The results showed that AEC has potent inhibitory activity against both bacteria, with a greater effect against X. campestris, yielding an average IC50 of 1.08 mg/mL. When AEC was combined with snake venoms, the antibacterial activity was enhanced, reaching nearly 100% inhibition against both bacteria. These findings suggest that AEC could be a promising alternative for the development of antibacterial treatments in crops.
