Inhibition of green mould in blood orange (<i>Citrus sinensis</i>var. Moro) with salicylic acid treatment

Abstract

The aim of this study was to find an alternative to synthetic fungicides currently used in the control of devastating fungal pathogen Penicillium digitatum Sacc, the causal agent of green mould disease of blood orange. Antifungal activities of salicylic acid (SA) were investigated against P. digitatum. Treatments consisted of five concentrations (0, 1, 2, 4 and 5 mM). The SA application significantly decreased weight loss percentage and increased life storage of fruits. Also, SA positively affected on post-harvest quality factors including total soluble solids (TSS), titrable acidity, anthocyanin, antioxidant content and pH value. It was observed that treated fruits at a concentration of 5 mM had the highest TSS, titrable acidity, anthocyanin and antioxidant content, and it had the lowest decay and acidity. Thus, these results showed that SA has strong impact on post-harvest decay and fruit quality of blood orange.