Antifungal activity of fresh ginger (Zingiber officinale) essential oil from ginger production waste against banana anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum musae: in vitro and in vivo evaluation.

Banana anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum musae, represents an important phytosanitary constraint, traditionally managed with synthetic fungicides, whose intensive use has contributed to environmental impacts and the selection of resistant isolates. In this context, essential oils have emerged as sustainable alternatives, especially when obtained from ginger production waste. This study aimed to characterize the chemical composition and evaluate the in vitro and in vivo antifungal activities of fresh ginger essential oil (Zingiber officinale) (FGEO) extracted from ginger production waste against C. musae. The oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. In vitro assays were conducted at concentrations ranging from 0.039 to 0.938 µL mL⁻¹, while in vivo tests used concentrations from 0.201 to 3.212 µL mL⁻¹, including appropriate controls. Chemical analysis revealed predominance of α-zingiberene (31.73%), α-farnesene (14.85%), geranial (13.15%), and sesquiphellandrene (11.04%), with a mean extraction yield of 0.21% (w/w). The FGEO exhibited significant antifungal activity, inhibiting mycelial growth and reducing disease severity. The in vivo IC₅₀ and IC₉₀ values were 0.535 and 2.797 µL mL⁻¹, respectively, demonstrating high efficacy at low concentrations. These results support the potential of FGEO, particularly when obtained from ginger production waste, as a low-concentration, sustainable alternative for postharvest management of banana anthracnose.