Penicillium digitatum (green mold) is pathogenic fungi and causes citrus fruit postharvest rotting that leads to huge economic losses across the world. The current study was aimed to develop a new derivative of cinnamaldehyde (4-methoxycinnamaldehyde) through the cross-hydroxyaldehyde condensation method with benzaldehyde substituted by a benzene ring under the catalysis of alkaline reagent and, moreover, to test their antifungal potential against P. digitatum, the major citrus fruit rotting fungi. Multiple derivatives of cinnamaldehyde viz. 4-nitro CA, 4-chloro CA, 4-bromo CA, 4-methyl CA, 4-methoxy CA, and 2,4-dimethoxy CA were synthesized in the current study whereas the 4-methoxy CA showed highest antifungal actions for citrus fruit postharvest rotting fungi P. digitatum. Moreover, 4-methoxy CA was found to reduce the spore germination and growth by damaging the fungal cell membrane, as well as declined the levels of reducing sugars.
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