Essential Oils and Chitosan Applications to Protect Apples against Postharvest Diseases and to Extend Shelf Life
Apple fruits are susceptible to pathogenic fungi such as <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> and <i>Penicillium expansum</i> which are responsible for significant pre- and postharvest fruit losses. Given the strong restriction in the use of synthetic agrochemicals, especially during the...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/3/822 |
| _version_ | 1797614023291699200 |
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| author | Sebastian Soppelsa Wendy Van Hemelrijck Dany Bylemans Carlo Andreotti |
| author_facet | Sebastian Soppelsa Wendy Van Hemelrijck Dany Bylemans Carlo Andreotti |
| author_sort | Sebastian Soppelsa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Apple fruits are susceptible to pathogenic fungi such as <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> and <i>Penicillium expansum</i> which are responsible for significant pre- and postharvest fruit losses. Given the strong restriction in the use of synthetic agrochemicals, especially during the postharvest phase, alternatives are currently sought for a more sustainable management of apple storage. The antifungal activity of thyme, clove, anise, camphor, and juniper essential oils (EOs) was evaluated with in vitro tests and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined. Thyme and anise EOs showed a MIC value of 0.5 and 1 mL L<sup>−1</sup> against <i>B. cinerea</i>, respectively. A MIC of 0.5 mL L<sup>−1</sup> was found for clove EO against <i>P. expansum</i>. Camphor and juniper EOs were found to be less effective. Although in those experiments the antifungal activity of EOs was proven, when EOs were applied in in vivo conditions they did not demonstrate the same effectiveness. In order to preserve EO inhibitory performances, edible coatings combining polysaccharide matrices (chitosan, arabic gum, and xanthan gum) with EOs were tested. After considering consistency, uniform coverage of the fruit surface, and antifungal properties of the matrix, chitosan was identified as the most suitable component for EO encapsulation. Treatments with chitosan in combination with thyme EO on apple fruits (cv. ‘Braeburn’) showed inhibitory effects on infection caused by <i>B. cinerea</i> (−48% of infected wounds compared to untreated). Similarly, clove EO combined with chitosan reduced the <i>Penicillium</i> infections in apple cv. ‘Golden Delicious’ by 62%. These results therefore suggest the effectiveness of the use of EOs encapsulated with chitosan for the control of postharvest diseases of apple fruits during storage. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:03:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ba98a1fb4f5c4a068071ebdfe1cf459d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:03:48Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-ba98a1fb4f5c4a068071ebdfe1cf459d2023-11-17T09:06:42ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952023-03-0113382210.3390/agronomy13030822Essential Oils and Chitosan Applications to Protect Apples against Postharvest Diseases and to Extend Shelf LifeSebastian Soppelsa0Wendy Van Hemelrijck1Dany Bylemans2Carlo Andreotti3Laimburg Research Centre, Laimburg 6–Vadena (Pfatten), Ora (Auer), 39040 Bolzano, ItalyResearch Center for Fruit npo (Proefcentrum Fruitteelt vzw), 3800 Sint-Truiden, BelgiumResearch Center for Fruit npo (Proefcentrum Fruitteelt vzw), 3800 Sint-Truiden, BelgiumFaculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, 39100 Bolzano, ItalyApple fruits are susceptible to pathogenic fungi such as <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> and <i>Penicillium expansum</i> which are responsible for significant pre- and postharvest fruit losses. Given the strong restriction in the use of synthetic agrochemicals, especially during the postharvest phase, alternatives are currently sought for a more sustainable management of apple storage. The antifungal activity of thyme, clove, anise, camphor, and juniper essential oils (EOs) was evaluated with in vitro tests and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined. Thyme and anise EOs showed a MIC value of 0.5 and 1 mL L<sup>−1</sup> against <i>B. cinerea</i>, respectively. A MIC of 0.5 mL L<sup>−1</sup> was found for clove EO against <i>P. expansum</i>. Camphor and juniper EOs were found to be less effective. Although in those experiments the antifungal activity of EOs was proven, when EOs were applied in in vivo conditions they did not demonstrate the same effectiveness. In order to preserve EO inhibitory performances, edible coatings combining polysaccharide matrices (chitosan, arabic gum, and xanthan gum) with EOs were tested. After considering consistency, uniform coverage of the fruit surface, and antifungal properties of the matrix, chitosan was identified as the most suitable component for EO encapsulation. Treatments with chitosan in combination with thyme EO on apple fruits (cv. ‘Braeburn’) showed inhibitory effects on infection caused by <i>B. cinerea</i> (−48% of infected wounds compared to untreated). Similarly, clove EO combined with chitosan reduced the <i>Penicillium</i> infections in apple cv. ‘Golden Delicious’ by 62%. These results therefore suggest the effectiveness of the use of EOs encapsulated with chitosan for the control of postharvest diseases of apple fruits during storage.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/3/822fruit storageencapsulationthymecloveedible coatingantifungal activity |
| spellingShingle | Sebastian Soppelsa Wendy Van Hemelrijck Dany Bylemans Carlo Andreotti Essential Oils and Chitosan Applications to Protect Apples against Postharvest Diseases and to Extend Shelf Life Agronomy fruit storage encapsulation thyme clove edible coating antifungal activity |
| title | Essential Oils and Chitosan Applications to Protect Apples against Postharvest Diseases and to Extend Shelf Life |
| title_full | Essential Oils and Chitosan Applications to Protect Apples against Postharvest Diseases and to Extend Shelf Life |
| title_fullStr | Essential Oils and Chitosan Applications to Protect Apples against Postharvest Diseases and to Extend Shelf Life |
| title_full_unstemmed | Essential Oils and Chitosan Applications to Protect Apples against Postharvest Diseases and to Extend Shelf Life |
| title_short | Essential Oils and Chitosan Applications to Protect Apples against Postharvest Diseases and to Extend Shelf Life |
| title_sort | essential oils and chitosan applications to protect apples against postharvest diseases and to extend shelf life |
| topic | fruit storage encapsulation thyme clove edible coating antifungal activity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/3/822 |
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