Efficacy of Edible Film Incorporated with Essential Oils against White-rot Decay Fungus (Trametes versicolor)

Abstract

Antifungal activities of edible film incorporated with essential oils (cinnamon oil, clove oil, anise oil, citronella oil, orange oil, tangerine oil, turmeric oil, guava leave oil, nutmeg oil and lime oil) against a white-rot decay fungus (Trametes versicolor) identified from rubberwood were investigated. The disc dilution method was employed to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC) by mixing edible film with essential oil at ratios 1:1, 1:2 and 1:4. It was found that cinnamon oil, clove oil and anise oil were the strongest inhibitors with the MICs and MFCs of 1:4. Decay fungi test of T. versicolor on treated rubberwood (coated with edible film incorporated with essential oils at ratio 1:4) were then conducted. After 12 weeks of exposure at 25°C and 100%RH, the average weight loss of each rubberwood sample was determined. The results indicated that rubberwood treated with edible film incorporated with cinnamon oil, clove oil and anise oil at ratio 1:4 were classified as highly resistant with weight losses of ≤10%. These findings suggested that edible film incorporated with essential oil has good potential for protecting rubberwood products from the attack of T. versicolor.