title: Effects of chitin and its derivative chitosan on postharvest decay of fruits: a review.
abstract: Considerable economic losses to harvested fruits are caused by postharvest fungal decay during transportation and storage, which can be significantly controlled by synthetic fungicides. However, considering public concern over pesticide residues in food and the environment, there is a need for safer alternatives for the control of postharvest decay to substitute synthetic fungicides. As the second most abundant biopolymer renewable source in nature, chitin and its derivative chitosan are widely used in controlling postharvest decay of fruits. This review aims to introduce the effect of chitin and chitosan on postharvest decay in fruits and the possible modes of action involved. We found most of the actions discussed in these researches rest on physiological mechanisms. All of the mechanisms are summarized to lay the groundwork for further studies which should focus on the molecular mechanisms of chitin and chitosan in controlling postharvest decay of fruits.
authors.affiliation: College of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, Jiangsu, China; E-Mails: renpingli1121@163.com (R.L.); liuwmwu@ujs.edu.cn (W.L.).
authors.forename: Hongyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Renping
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Weimin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005519:Food Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D005520:Food Preservatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005638:Fruit / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D005520:Food Preservatives; D048271:Chitosan