The efficacy of adding some antioxidant compounds in alleviating strawberry fruit rots during storage

BACKGROUND: Postharvest decay caused by Botrytis cinerea (gray mold) and Fusarium solani (fruit decay) negatively affects strawberry fruits during handling and marketing. OBJECTIVE: The effect of cinnamon oil, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate and/or pomegranate peel powder were estimated on the growth of the two pathogenic fungi and their fruit decay incidence under in vitro and in vivo conditions. METHODS: The isolated fungi from decayed strawberry fruits were identified as Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium sp. The isolated Fusarium sp. was identified molecularly as Fusarium solani and registered in GenBank under accession number ON248575.1 ( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/ON248575.1 ). RESULTS: Complete fungal growth suppression was observed at a concentration of 3% for all tested materials, Additionally the same (100%) effect was achieved at 2% of a combination of essential oil, salts and pomegranate peel powder. Significant reduction in decay incidence and severity was observed in inoculated strawberry fruits treated with the same concentrations of the tested materials after 10 and 15 days of storage. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that cinnamon oil, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate and/or pomegranate peel powder have potency as eco-friendly products, for safe postharvest treatments against strawberry fruit rots during storage. They could be recommended for use in packing-houses due to their wide utilization as safe food preservatives.