Essential Oils in Postharvest Treatment against Microbial Spoilage of the <i>Rosaceae</i> Family Fruits

Abstract

Fruits undergo numerous chemical, physical, and microbiological changes during storage that shorten their postharvest life, reducing shelf-life and boosting food loss. Food quality and safety are seriously threatened by postharvest infections, one of the factors behind postharvest deterioration and mycotoxin contamination in fruits. The control of postharvest deterioration is a big concern because there are few management methods available. Several attempts have been undertaken to prevent the microbial degradation of fresh food at the postharvest stage without using synthetic fungicides, which are dangerous for the environment and people’s health. A good substitute for synthetic fungicides among them is the use of natural plant compounds, such as essential oils included or not included in the edible coatings. This review’s aim was to collect information from the scientific literature on the biological activity of essential oil, with or without edible coatings, against pathogens that cause the postharvest spoilage of many fruit belonging to Rosaceae family in order to develop appropriate substitute tactics for synthetic fungicides in the treatment of postharvest fruit diseases. Advances and obstacles surrounding emerging methods that may be useful for enhancing the effectiveness and dependability of essential oils were evaluated.

Keywords

• postharvest fungi
• phytochemicals
• botanicals
• plants extract
• postharvest disease stone and pome fruits