The Preharvest Application of Essential Oils (Carvacrol, Eugenol, and Thymol) Reduces Fungal Decay in Lemons
Lemon postharvest losses are mainly due to the presence of fungal diseases. Current postharvest decay strategies rely on synthetic chemical fungicides; however, consumers are demanding that fruit is free of any chemical residue. The use of new natural alternatives, including essential oils, is emerg...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Agriculture |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/7/1437 |
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| author | María Gutiérrez-Pozo Vicente Serna-Escolano Marina Giménez-Berenguer Maria J. Giménez Pedro J. Zapata |
| author_facet | María Gutiérrez-Pozo Vicente Serna-Escolano Marina Giménez-Berenguer Maria J. Giménez Pedro J. Zapata |
| author_sort | María Gutiérrez-Pozo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Lemon postharvest losses are mainly due to the presence of fungal diseases. Current postharvest decay strategies rely on synthetic chemical fungicides; however, consumers are demanding that fruit is free of any chemical residue. The use of new natural alternatives, including essential oils, is emerging due to their potential antimicrobial activity. Therefore, the aim of this work is the elucidation of the effect of carvacrol, eugenol, and thymol, individually and in combination, applied in preharvest. Three different concentrations (100, 500, and 1000 µL/mL) of carvacrol, eugenol, and thymol were individually applied and in combination in ‘Fino’ and ‘Verna’ lemon cultivars. The fungal incidence (mainly <i>Penicillium digitatum</i> and <i>P. italicum</i>) was evaluated weekly for 35 days. Moreover, the main different quality parameters (weight loss, firmness, colour, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, and total phenolic content) of lemons were evaluated at harvest and after 35 days of cold storage. The results showed that carvacrol at the lowest concentration (100 µL/L) provided the lowest fungal incidence with a non-negative effect on the lemon quality parameters during storage, while the highest concentrations and the combination of essential oils resulted in the opposite effect. Therefore, carvacrol applied at 100 µL/L in preharvest could be an eco-friendly alternative to the current fungicides to control lemon decay, while maintaining their optimal quality. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:23:36Z |
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| id | doaj.art-7655030a45164babbc57f65b71c4c514 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0472 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:23:36Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
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| series | Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj.art-7655030a45164babbc57f65b71c4c5142023-11-18T17:53:53ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722023-07-01137143710.3390/agriculture13071437The Preharvest Application of Essential Oils (Carvacrol, Eugenol, and Thymol) Reduces Fungal Decay in LemonsMaría Gutiérrez-Pozo0Vicente Serna-Escolano1Marina Giménez-Berenguer2Maria J. Giménez3Pedro J. Zapata4Department of Food Technology, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Orihuela, University Miguel Hernández, Ctra. Beniel km 3.2, 03312 Alicante, SpainDepartment of Food Technology, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Orihuela, University Miguel Hernández, Ctra. Beniel km 3.2, 03312 Alicante, SpainDepartment of Food Technology, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Orihuela, University Miguel Hernández, Ctra. Beniel km 3.2, 03312 Alicante, SpainDepartment of Food Technology, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Orihuela, University Miguel Hernández, Ctra. Beniel km 3.2, 03312 Alicante, SpainDepartment of Food Technology, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Orihuela, University Miguel Hernández, Ctra. Beniel km 3.2, 03312 Alicante, SpainLemon postharvest losses are mainly due to the presence of fungal diseases. Current postharvest decay strategies rely on synthetic chemical fungicides; however, consumers are demanding that fruit is free of any chemical residue. The use of new natural alternatives, including essential oils, is emerging due to their potential antimicrobial activity. Therefore, the aim of this work is the elucidation of the effect of carvacrol, eugenol, and thymol, individually and in combination, applied in preharvest. Three different concentrations (100, 500, and 1000 µL/mL) of carvacrol, eugenol, and thymol were individually applied and in combination in ‘Fino’ and ‘Verna’ lemon cultivars. The fungal incidence (mainly <i>Penicillium digitatum</i> and <i>P. italicum</i>) was evaluated weekly for 35 days. Moreover, the main different quality parameters (weight loss, firmness, colour, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, and total phenolic content) of lemons were evaluated at harvest and after 35 days of cold storage. The results showed that carvacrol at the lowest concentration (100 µL/L) provided the lowest fungal incidence with a non-negative effect on the lemon quality parameters during storage, while the highest concentrations and the combination of essential oils resulted in the opposite effect. Therefore, carvacrol applied at 100 µL/L in preharvest could be an eco-friendly alternative to the current fungicides to control lemon decay, while maintaining their optimal quality.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/7/1437<i>Citrus limon</i>fungal incidencepostharvest lossespreharvest treatmentquality |
| spellingShingle | María Gutiérrez-Pozo Vicente Serna-Escolano Marina Giménez-Berenguer Maria J. Giménez Pedro J. Zapata The Preharvest Application of Essential Oils (Carvacrol, Eugenol, and Thymol) Reduces Fungal Decay in Lemons Agriculture <i>Citrus limon</i> fungal incidence postharvest losses preharvest treatment quality |
| title | The Preharvest Application of Essential Oils (Carvacrol, Eugenol, and Thymol) Reduces Fungal Decay in Lemons |
| title_full | The Preharvest Application of Essential Oils (Carvacrol, Eugenol, and Thymol) Reduces Fungal Decay in Lemons |
| title_fullStr | The Preharvest Application of Essential Oils (Carvacrol, Eugenol, and Thymol) Reduces Fungal Decay in Lemons |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Preharvest Application of Essential Oils (Carvacrol, Eugenol, and Thymol) Reduces Fungal Decay in Lemons |
| title_short | The Preharvest Application of Essential Oils (Carvacrol, Eugenol, and Thymol) Reduces Fungal Decay in Lemons |
| title_sort | preharvest application of essential oils carvacrol eugenol and thymol reduces fungal decay in lemons |
| topic | <i>Citrus limon</i> fungal incidence postharvest losses preharvest treatment quality |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/7/1437 |
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