Use of reuterin to inhibit mold growth and preserve quality attributes of strawberries during cold storage

Abstract

The use of fungicides, many of which are of chemical origin and are governed by stringent laws, such as maximum residual limits (MRLs), has proven to be the most successful method to date, especially when used prior to harvest. In light of regulatory compliance and public health considerations, there is interest in exploring fungicides of natural origin as alternatives to chemical fungicides. The objective of this study is to validate the antifungal potential of reuterin at the postharvest stage and to compare it over a commercial fungicide, fludioxonil, by in vivo testing on common strawberry pathogens, including Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum acutatum, Rhizopus stolonifer, and Penicillium expansum. Analysis of strawberries stored at 4 °C/95 % RH for 12 d revealed that 2000 mM squalene and 100 mM reuterin did not adversely affect fruit quality parameters such as color, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, weight loss, and visual quality. Reuterin at 50 mM resulted in a sizable decrease in spore count of 3 log CFU mL−1 (p = 0.003). These results suggest that reuterin may be promising as a potential new biofungicide suitable for pre- and post-harvest application.

Keywords

• Strawberry
• Postharvest diseases
• Antifungal activity
• Gray mold
• Natural antimicrobials
• Fruit quality