title: Effect on tomato plant and fruit of the application of biopolymer-oregano essential oil coatings.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oregano essential oil (EO) was incorporated into film-forming dispersions (FFDs) based on biopolymers (chitosan and/or methylcellulose) at two different concentrations. The effect of the application of the FFDs was evaluated on tomato plants (cultivar Micro-Tom) at three different stages of development, and on pre-harvest and postharvest applications on tomato fruit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The application of the FFDs at '3 Leaves' stage caused phytotoxic problems, which were lethal when the EO was applied without biopolymers. Even though plant growth and development were delayed, the total biomass and the crop yield were not affected by biopolymer-EO treatments. When the FFDs were applied in the 'Fruit' stage the pre-harvest application of FFDs had no negative effects. All FFDs containing EO significantly reduced the respiration rate of tomato fruit and diminished weight loss during storage. Moreover, biopolymer-EO FFDs led to a decrease in the fungal decay of tomato fruit inoculated with Rhizopus stolonifer spores, as compared with non-treated tomato fruit and those coated with FFDs without EO.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The application of biopolymer-oregano essential oil coatings has been proven to be an effective treatment to control R. stolonifer in tomato fruit. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors: Instituto Universitario de Ingeniería de Alimentos para el Desarrollo, Departamento de Tecnología de Alimentos, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain.
authors: Ángela
authors: Á
authors: Perdones
authors: Instituto Universitario de Ingeniería de Alimentos para el Desarrollo, Departamento de Tecnología de Alimentos, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain.
authors: Núria
authors: N
authors: Tur
authors: Instituto Universitario de Ingeniería de Alimentos para el Desarrollo, Departamento de Tecnología de Alimentos, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain.
authors: Amparo
authors: A
authors: Chiralt
authors: Instituto Universitario de Ingeniería de Alimentos para el Desarrollo, Departamento de Tecnología de Alimentos, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022, Valencia, Spain.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Vargas
mesh_terms: D001704:Biopolymers / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D019069:Cell Respiration; D048271:Chitosan / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D000069601:Crop Protection; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology; D004655:Emulsions; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D005519:Food Preservation; D063427:Food Quality; D061353:Food Storage; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D008747:Methylcellulose / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D050296:Microbial Viability; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D031341:Origanum / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D012233:Rhizopus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D004655:Emulsions; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010860:Pigments, Biological; D010938:Plant Oils; D008747:Methylcellulose; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: chitosan; coating; decay; methylcellulose; postharvest; pre-harvest