title: Efficacy of the application of a coating composed of chitosan and Origanum vulgare L. essential oil to control Rhizopus stolonifer and Aspergillus niger in grapes (Vitis labrusca L.).
abstract: This study evaluated the efficacy of the combined application of chitosan (CHI) and Origanum vulgare L. essential oil (OV) in the inhibition of Rhizopus stolonifer URM 3728 and Aspergillus niger URM 5842 on laboratory media and on grapes (Vitis labrusca L.) and its influence on the physical, physicochemical and sensory characteristics of the fruits during storage (25 °C, 12 days and 12 °C, 24 days). The application of mixtures of different CHI and OV concentrations (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration - MIC, 1/2 MIC and 1/4 MIC) inhibited the mycelial growth of the test fungi. The application of CHI and OV at sub-inhibitory concentrations (CHI 1/2 MIC + OV 1/4 MIC; CHI 1/2 MIC + OV 1/2 MIC) inhibited spore germination and caused morphological changes in fungal spores and mycelia, in addition to inhibiting the growth of the assayed fungi strains in artificially infected grapes as well as the autochthonous mycoflora of grapes stored at both room and cold temperature. In general, the application of a coating composed of CHI and OV at sub-inhibitory concentrations preserved the quality of grapes as measured by their physical and physicochemical attributes, while some of their sensory attributes improved throughout the assessed storage time. These results demonstrate the potential of the combination of CHI and OV at sub-inhibitory concentrations to control post-harvest pathogenic fungi in fruits, in particular, R. stolonifer and A. niger in grapes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Food Microbiology, Department of Nutrition, Health Science Center, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nereide Serafim Timóteo
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.forename: Ana Júlia Alves
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Athayde Aguiar
authors.forename: Carlos Eduardo Vasconcelos
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Camila
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Veríssimo de Sales
authors.forename: Silvanda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Melo E Silva
authors.forename: Rosana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sousa da Silva
authors.forename: Thayza Christina Montenegro
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Stamford
authors.forename: Evandro Leite
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: de Souza
mesh_terms: D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005519:Food Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D061353:Food Storage; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D025282:Mycelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031341:Origanum / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012233:Rhizopus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D027843:Vitis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts; D048271:Chitosan