Postharvest Control of Rhizopus stolonifer in Peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) Fruits Using Salicylic Acid

• Published in: Journal of food safety 2012-11, Vol.32 (4), p.502-507
• Main Authors: Panahirad, Sima, Zaare-Nahandi, Fariborz, Safaralizadeh, Razieh, Alizadeh-Salteh, Saeedeh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomedical materials; Damage; Food contamination & poisoning; Food safety; Fruits; Fungi; Harvest; In vitro testing; Peaches; Pest control; Prunus; Prunus persica; Rhizopus; Rhizopus stolonifer; Salicylic acid; Surgical implants; Warehousing
• ISSN: 0149-6085; 1745-4565
• DOI: 10.1111/jfs.12013

One of the most damaging pathogenic molds in peach fruits during warehousing period is Rhizopus stolonifer that significantly reduces storage time. Salicylic acid (SA) plays different crucial functions in plant tissues. In this study, the inhibitory effect of SA treatment on the growth of R. stolonifer was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The results obtained from in vitro experiments showed that SA significantly reduced Rhizopus growth at all concentrations and, at 5 mM, the growth was completely inhibited. In vivo experiments showed relatively high level of inhibition, though the postimmersion treatment as compared with the preimmersion treatment resulted in higher inhibitory effects. Regarding inhibitory effects of SA on controlling R. stolonifer, its application on peach fruits during postharvest period can be a promising strategy to control the growth and development of this fungus and enhancement of the warehousing time of the treated fruits. Practical Applications Rhizopus stolonifer with serious and significant damages to agricultural products makes it essential to develop the effective control methods of this pathogen. Today, the use of synthetic chemicals for food preservation is largely abolished, because they can be hazardous for human and animal health. Therefore, there is a huge need for natural compounds with fungicidal attributes. The results of the current study illustrated the effective performance of salicylic acid (SA), one of the known phytohormones, for controlling R. stolonifer growth in peach fruits. The application of immersion treatment inside SA solution can reduce the growth and development of the resulting diseases and also protect the fruits against the future damages of it. Furthermore, SA treatment can inhibit the growth of other pathogenic molds and reduce their injury to fruits.