title: Efficacy of the combined application of chitosan and Locust Bean Gum with different citrus essential oils to control postharvest spoilage caused by Aspergillus flavus in dates.
abstract: This study reports the efficacy of the combined application of chitosan (CH) and Locust Bean Gum (LBG) in combination with different citrus essential oils (EOs) to inhibit Aspergillus flavus in vitro and on artificially infected dates for a storage period of 12 days. The effect of these treatments on the fruits' sensory characteristics was evaluated to verify the complete absence of off-odours and off-flavours. Bergamot EO was the most effective in reducing mycelial growth, followed by bitter orange EO. Both bergamot and bitter orange oils significantly reduced conidial germination and a complete inhibition was obtained at concentrations higher than 2%. The mixtures based on CH-2% (v/v) bergamot EO or CH-2% (v/v) bitter orange EO proved to be the most effective coatings to reduce conidial germination resulting in an 87-90% inhibition compared with the control. In fruit decay assays coatings based on CH incorporating citrus oils were able to reduce fungal decay in the range of 52-62% at day 12. The study results and the complete absence of off-flavours and off-odours demonstrate the potential of CH coatings carrying citrus EOs at sub-inhibitory concentrations to control postharvest growth of A. flavus in dates.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire des Substances Naturelles (LSN), Institut National de Recherche et d'Analyse Physico-chimique (INRAP), Pôle Technologique de Sidi Thabet, 2020 Sidi Thabet, Tunisia; Laboratoire d'Ecologie et de Technologie Microbienne, Institut National des Sciences Appliquées et de Technologie (INSAT), 2 Boulevard de la Terre, BP 676, 1080 Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hajer
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aloui
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire des Substances Naturelles (LSN), Institut National de Recherche et d'Analyse Physico-chimique (INRAP), Pôle Technologique de Sidi Thabet, 2020 Sidi Thabet, Tunisia. Electronic address: khaoula_khwaldia@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Khaoula
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khwaldia
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural and Food Productions (DiSPA), University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 98, 95123 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Licciardello
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural and Food Productions (DiSPA), University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 98, 95123 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazzaglia
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural and Food Productions (DiSPA), University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 98, 95123 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Muratore
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Ecologie et de Technologie Microbienne, Institut National des Sciences Appliquées et de Technologie (INSAT), 2 Boulevard de la Terre, BP 676, 1080 Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Moktar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamdi
authors.affiliation: Department of Agri-Food and Environmental Management Systems (DiGeSA), University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 98, 95123 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Restuccia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D028023:Arecaceae / Q000382:microbiology*; D001231:Aspergillus flavus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D048271:Chitosan / Q000494:pharmacology; D002957:Citrus / Q000737:chemistry; D005519:Food Preservation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D005638:Fruit / Q000382:microbiology*; D005685:Galactans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008351:Mannans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053149:Plant Gums / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012677:Sensation / Q000187:drug effects; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D005685:Galactans; D008351:Mannans; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D053149:Plant Gums; D048271:Chitosan; C017471:locust bean gum
keywords: Bergamot; Bitter orange; Chitosan; Date; Locust Bean Gum; Postharvest decay