Application of pomegranate peel extract and essential oil as a safe botanical preservative for the control of postharvest decay caused by <i>Penicillium italicum</i> and <i>Penicillium digitatum</i> on “Satsuma” mandarin

Abstract

Abstract There is a growing interest in using natural antifungal compounds for the preservation of foods. The first experiment of this study was investigated an effect of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) and the essential oil (PPEO) in different concentrations mixed with potato dextrose agar (PDA) on spore germination of Penicillum italicum and Penicillum digitatum . in vivo experiments were focused on the treatments offering potential antifungal and antioxidant benefits. Preventive treatments were performed by dipping wounded fruit into the specific concentrations of extract and thereafter, each wound site was infected by inoculating 20 μL of the inoculum of P. italicum or P. digitatum . For curative treatments, fruit were wounded as above, and then inoculated with P. italicum or P. digitatum . Even though data showed no significant differences between PPEO treatments, PPE at 100 and 125 ppm elicited significantly lower spore germination under in vitro conditions compared to the other treatments. The results showed that 75% or/and 100% PPE reduced infected wound percentage and lesion diameter and increased total phenolic, flavonoid compounds content, and phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase activity in “Satsuma” mandarin rind. The tested PPE can be effectively utilized for controlling and curing infections caused by P. italicum and P. digitatum . Practical applications The results obtained in this research could be advantageously used by industry as a request of consumer demand for pesticide‐free food. The results indicate that it is possible to substitute the synthetic compounds with preservatives safer for man and environment.