Effect of functionalized hybrid chitosan/gum Arabic bilayer coatings with lemongrass essential oil on the postharvest disease control and the physicochemical properties of papaya (Carica papaya) fruits

Abstract

The aim of this investigation was to determine the antifungal efficacy of Lemongrass Essential Oil (LGEO) against postharvest pathogens - Lasiodiplodia theobromae and Rhizopus stolonifer and to estimate the combined effect of Chitosan (CH) and Gum Arabic (GA) bilayer coatings on the physicochemical properties of the papaya fruit during its postharvest storage. Papaya fruits were coated by immersion in a solution of CH (1%), LGEO (0.05%) and GA (10%) for 5 min and stored at 25 ± 2 °C. In vitro, the LGEO exhibited antifungal activity at 8 µL/Petri-dish by inhibiting mycelial growth. In vivo, the lowest disease incidence and severity of L. theobromae and R. stolonifer were obtained for the fruits treated with CH/LGEO (533.3 µL/L) and GA. Furthermore, the treatment also provided excellent postharvest shelf-life to the fruits for ∼13 d at 25 ± 2 °C. Essential oil functionalized bilayer coating could be the best alternative technique to extend the postharvest shelf-life of papaya fruits.