Evaluación del uso de aceites esenciales como método alternativo para el control de podredumbres en piña (Ananas comosus var. MD-2) durante el período poscosecha

Abstract

The use of essential oils in the control of rots in pineapple (Ananas comosus var. MD-2) was evaluated during the post-harvest period. First, in order to know the causal agents of these diseases in pineapple were isolated, purified and identified 10 different fungal strains of genera: Aspergillus, Botryodiplodia, Botrytis, Cladosporium, Colletotrichum, Fusarium. Gliocladium, Mucor, Penicillium and Rhizopus. Subsequently, the most aggressive fungal strain was determined by evaluating of three different genus of fungi. The highest level of decay was caused by Fusarium sp. Then antifungal activity in vitro on the growth of Fusarium sp. was studied with 4 concentrations of essential oils of thyme (Thymus vulgaris), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), peppermint (Mentha piperita) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis). The 4 achieved greater inhibition treatments were applied on inoculated in fruits with the aggressive strain in a concentration of 106 conidia mL-1. The severity and its influence on the post-harvest fruit quality was evaluated during 28 days (21 days to 8 ° C 80 - 90% RH over 7 days at 20 ° C 85-90% RH). The treatment with 1000 ppm of thyme essential oil had the highest antifungal activity and it did not influence significantly on the physico-chemical and sensory characteristics of the pineapple.