title: Synergistic antifungal activity of sodium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide, and cupric sulfate against Penicillium digitatum.
abstract: Oxidizing compounds such as sodium hypochlorite (NaCIO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are widely used in food sanitization because of their antimicrobial effects. We applied these compounds and metals to analyze their antifungal activity against Penicillium digitatum, the causal agent of citrus green mold. The MICs were 300 ppm for NaClO and 300 mM for H2O2 when these compounds were individually applied for 2 min to conidia suspensions. To minimize the concentration of these compounds, we developed and standardized a sequential treatment for conidia that resulted in loss of viability on growth plates and loss of infectivity on lemons. The in vitro treatment consists of preincubation with 10 ppm of NaClO followed by incubation with 100 mM H2O2 and 6 mM CuSO4 (cupric sulfate). The combination of NaClO and H2O2 in the presence of CuSO4 produces a synergistic effect (fractional inhibitory concentration index of 0.36). The sequential treatment applied in situ on lemon peel 24 h after the fruit was inoculated with conidia produced a significant delay in the fungal infection. The in vitro treatment was effective on both imazalil-sensitive and imazalil-resistant strains of P. digitatum and Geotrichum candidum, the causal agent of citrus sour rot. However, this treatment inhibited 90% of mycelial growth for Penicillium italicum (citrus blue mold). These results indicate that sequential treatment may be useful for postharvest control of citrus fruit diseases.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Química Biológica, Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Chacabuco 461, CP T4000ILI Tucumán, Argentina.
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cerioni
authors.forename: Viviana Andrea
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Rapisarda
authors.forename: Mirna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hilal
authors.forename: Fernando Eduardo
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Prado
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Montelongo
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002957:Citrus / Q000382:microbiology*; D019327:Copper Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005519:Food Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D005638:Fruit / Q000382:microbiology; D005848:Geotrichum / Q000187:drug effects; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010407:Penicillium / Q000187:drug effects*; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite; D019327:Copper Sulfate