Assessment of Mint, Basil, and Lavender Essential Oil Vapor-Phase in Antifungal Protection and Lemon Fruit Quality

Abstract

There is an increasing interest in developing natural methods to replace the current chemicals used for maintaining postharvest quality of citrus fruits. The essential oil antifungal activity of mint (MEO), basil (BEO), and lavender (LEO) acting as the vapor-phases was tested against Penicillium digitatum. The minimum doses with fungistatic and fungicidal effect, in vitro, acting as the vapor-phases, were set up. The minimum fungicidal dose was 300 μL for BEO and 350 μL LEO, while for MEO only minimal dose with fungistatic effect was reached. The IC50 values were calculated and used (v/v) for testing preservation of lemon fruits, in close space enriched in vapor oil. For this purpose, the following two independent in vivo experiments were carried out: experiment 1, inoculated lemons with P. digitatum stored without chemical treatments 7 days, at 22 ± 2 °C, at two concentrations (C1—IC50 equivalent; C2—half of C1); and experiment 2, the non-inoculated lemons kept under the same conditions and concentrations of EO vapor served to evaluate the lemon quality properties. The results showed that antifungal protective effect was provided in the order of LEO-C1 > BEO-C1 > MEO-C1 > BEO-C2 > MEO-C2 > LEO-C2. The quality indicators like weight loss, pH, and firmness were not negatively influenced.

The Current State of Knowledge about Essential Oil Fumigation for Quality of Crops during Postharvest

“…This study showed that the higher concentration of thymol, the higher the value for firmness. A slightly different situation was observed for Citrus limon L. fruits treated with peppermint and lavender (Lavandula angustifolia L.) essential oils-higher firmness was obtained using a higher concentration of mint essential oil and a lower concentration of lavender essential oil [67]. Nonetheless, in this study, the researchers stored the containers with Citrus limon L. fruits in a dark place with no access to sunlight or artificial light.…”

“…fruits treated with goldenrod essential oil [41]. In Sumalan et al [67], three essential oils were used in two concentrations to fumigate Citrus limon L. fruits: mint, basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), and lavender essential oils. The results showed that a high concentration of mint essential oil and low concentrations of basil and lavender essential oils reduced the weight loss slightly, but a low concentration of mint essential oil and high concentration of basil essential oil caused a slight increase in weight loss.…”

“…Total phenolics content ↑ Ascorbic acid content ↑ Rubus idaeus L. [9] Malic and citric acid content ↑ Glucose, fructose, and sucrose content ↑ Rubus idaeus L. [10] Decay incidence * ↓ Rubus idaeus L., Rubus L. [12] Thyme EO Thymus vulgaris L. [15] [28] Decay incidence * ↓ Prunus persica L. [87] Anthracnose severity and incidence ↓ Persea americana Mill. [28] Firmness ↑ Agaricus bisporus L. [15] Weight loss ↓ Decay severity ** Citrus limon L. [67] Basil EO Ocimum basilicum L.…”

Lavender (Lavandula officinalis) essential oil prevents acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity by decreasing oxidative stress and inflammatory response

“…The essential oil was extracted, dried over sodium sulfate, and stored at 4°C in dark vials until analysis. Essential oil yield (w/w %) was calculated on a dry weight basis of the plant (Sumalan et al, 2020).…”

Protection of Citrus Fruits from Postharvest Infection with Penicillium digitatum and Degradation of Patulin by Biocontrol Yeast Clavispora lusitaniae 146

“…At the same time, new options for controlling P. digitatum in fruits have been investigated. Although new chemical agents [ 19 , 20 , 21 ] and peptides [ 22 ] for the control of P. digitatum are being developed, biological control remains the most promising option [ 8 ]. Among biocontrol agents, antagonistic yeasts have been the most frequently tested organisms [ 3 , 8 , 10 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ].…”