Chitosan for control of Penicilliumsp in post-harvest of apples

Abstract

This research aimed to evaluate the potential of chitosan on the control of post-harvest decays in apples. A trial in vitro evaluated the effects of the followed concentrations of chitosan: 0, 10,20, 40, 80 e 160 mg L-1 (Fishfertil®, 20 g L-1 of chitosan) on the mycelial growth of a fungus isolate of Penicillium sp.. In another experiment, apples of the cultivars Princesa and Castel Gala were dipped by 10 seconds in solutions containing the following concentrations of chitosan: 10, 20, 40, 80 e 160 mg L-1; and inoculated 24 hours later with the Peniccilium sp. isolate. Evaluations of incidence and severity of the disease were carried out at 2, 4 or 6 days after inoculation. In the in vitro trial, chitosan showed a fungistatic effect, linearly decreasing the diameter of Penicillium colonies. The post-harvest treatments with chitosan decreased the incidence of apple decays starting at the concentration of 10 mg L-1. Nevertheless, there was not effect of the treatments on the lesion diameters.