Essential oils and natural plant extracts as antifungal ingredients of pectin-based edible composite coatings to control green mold and maintain postharvest quality of `Valencia´ oranges

Abstract

Pectin-beeswax edible coatings containing essential oils (EOs) and plant extracts as antifungal ingredients have been developed to reduce postharvest losses in ‘Valencia’ oranges. After in vitro evaluation of the antifungal activity of the ingredients against Penicillium digitatum, selected agents and concentrations (0.2-2%, w/w) were incorporated into the coating. The curative activity of antifungal edible coatings (AECs) to control green mold was tested on artificially inoculated oranges incubated 8 days at 20°C.