Afek, U., Department of Postharvest Science of Fresh Produce, Gilat Experiment Station, Agricultural Research Organization, Mobile Post Negev 2, 85-280, Israel
Orenstein, J., Department of Postharvest Science of Fresh Produce, Gilat Experiment Station, Agricultural Research Organization, Mobile Post Negev 2, 85-280, Israel
Carmeli, S., School of Chemistry, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
Aharoni, N., Department of Postharvest Science of Fresh Produce, ARO, Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel

The study tested two parsley (Petroslinum crispum) cultivars, 'Janet' (resident) and 'Hazera' (susceptible), that differ in their response to the fungus Botrytis cinera Pers. During the 4 days after inoculation with B. cinerea, at 24 °C, concentrations of (+)marmesin in leaves sampled from 'Janet' and 'Hazera' increased from 17 to 145 μg g-1 fresh weight (FW) and from 8 to 25 μg g-1 FW, respectively. After the 4th day, levels decreased. Incidence of decay (necrotic areas) in 'Janet' and 'Hazera' leaves 4 days post-inoculation with B. cinerea, at 24 °C, were 4 and 68 mm2, respectively. EC50 values of (+) marmesin for the pathogenic fungi B. cinerea, Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler and Sclerotinta sclerotiorum (Lib) De Bray in vitro were found to be 30, 40 and 25 μg ml -1, respectively. (+)Marmesin levels were highly correlated with resistance. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.