title: Control of citrus molds using bioactive coatings incorporated with fungal chitosan/plant extracts composite.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The ongoing postharvest loss in citrus fruits, due to fungal infection, is a chronic economic and agricultural problem. Most of citrus damage is caused by Penicillium spp., e.g. green mold (P. digitatum) and blue mold (P. italicum). Fungal chitosan, from Mucor rouxii, and plant extracts from cress seeds, olive leaves, pomegranate peels and senna pods, were evaluated as antifungal agents against the phytopathogenic fungi, P. digitatum and P. italicum, using in vitro qualitative and quantitative assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All natural agents tested exhibited potent antifungal activity; the most powerful agent was cress (Lepidium sativum) seed extract, followed by pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel extract. Fungal chitosan also had a remarkable fungicidal potentiality using both evaluation assays. Penicillium digitatum was generally more resistant than P. italicum toward all examined agents. The incorporation of each individual natural agent in coating material resulted in a great reduction in fungal growth and viability. The addition of chitosan combined with cress and pomegranate extracts, to the coating materials, prevented coated citrus fruit from decay by green and blue mold for a 2-week storage period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Natural derivatives could be recommended as powerful antifungal alternatives to protect citrus fruits from postharvest fungal decay.
authors.affiliation: Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, El-Sadat City, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Tayel
authors.affiliation: Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, El-Sadat City, Egypt.|Department of Biology, College of Sciences and Humanities-, AlQwayiyah, Shaqra University, Shaqra, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Shaaban H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Moussa
authors.affiliation: Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, El-Sadat City, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohammed F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Salem
authors.affiliation: Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, El-Sadat City, Egypt.
authors.forename: Khaled E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Mazrou
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt.|Faculty of Health and Environmental Science, AUT University, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Wael F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: El-Tras
mesh_terms: D048271:Chitosan; D002957:Citrus / Q000382:microbiology*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial; D029686:Lepidium; D029561:Lythraceae / Q000737:chemistry; D009089:Mucor / Q000737:chemistry; D031658:Olea / Q000737:chemistry; D010407:Penicillium / Q000254:growth & development*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010936:Plant Extracts; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D029846:Senna Plant / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005659:Fungicides, Industrial; D010936:Plant Extracts; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: Penicillium; antifungal; natural; phytopathogens; postharvest