Control of anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) growth in “Hass” avocado fruit using sachets filled with oregano oil-starch-capsules

• Published in: Future foods : a dedicated journal for sustainability in food science 2024-12, Vol.10, p.100394, Article 100394
• Main Authors: Colín-Chávez, Citlali, Virgen-Ortiz, José Juan, Martínez-Téllez, Miguel Ángel, Avelino-Ramírez, Cristina, Gallegos-Santoyo, Nancy Lissete, Miranda-Ackerman, Marco A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Active packaging sachets; Hass avocado fruit; Oregano oil; Postharvest loss
• ISSN: 2666-8335; 2666-8335
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fufo.2024.100394

Active antifungal packaging is a technological solution for reducing the postharvest losses of fruits and vegetables associated with phytopathogens. Anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) is the principal fungus that causes post-harvest avocado fruit decay. In this study, antifungal sachets filled with oregano oil-starch capsules were prepared, and their active effects were demonstrated on Hass avocado fruits. Oregano oil (31 % of carvacrol) was encapsulated with corn starch by spray drying. Tyvek sachets (4 × 4 cm) filled with 80 (T1) and 160 mg (T2) of oregano oil-starch capsules (99.35 ± 1.86 mg g−1) were fabricated. The antifungal effects of the sachets were tested in vitro and in vivo using a humidity chamber (90–95 % relative humidity (RH)) on fruits inoculated with anthracnose. The results showed that T1 and T2 inhibited 75.21 ± 2.81 and 100 % in vitro growth of anthracnose at 25 °C for 12 days. Furthermore, Hass avocado fruits stored in a humidity chamber at 25 °C for 6 days showed that only T2 significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the area of lesion produced by artificial inoculation of Hass avocado fruits with anthracnose. On average, the lesion area in the Hass avocado fruits treated with T2 was 13.94 % smaller than that in the control fruit. [Display omitted]