Use of Lemongrass Oil and Modified Atmosphere Packaging on Control of Anthracnose and Quality Maintenance in Avocado Cultivars

In vitro studies indicated that the essential oils lemongrass (LO) inhibited the growth of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of LO showed geranial and neral as major compounds. Fruit inoculation trials for three cultivars with LO in biorientated polypropylene modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and commercial treatment (prochloraz and Freshmark bag showed lower disease severity at 25C for 5 days than treatments with stand-alone MAP, LO+Freshmark bag and untreated control. Multivariate canonical variate analysis of the results indicated that the naturally infected avocado cultivars from LO+MAP treatment significantly reduced the incidence of anthracnose, gray pulp, vascular browning, weight loss, loss of fruit firmness and showed acceptable taste, flavor, texture and higher overall acceptance after ripening at 25C followed by cold storage at 10C for 18 days. Thus, the efficacy of combined application of LO in MAP as a suitable alternative to the currently adopted commercial treatment was demonstrated in this investigation. Practical Applications: A novel approach to control postharvest disease anthracnose (C. gloeosporioides), while maintaining fruit quality, has been implemented by the combined application of essential oil and modified atmosphere packaging to three popular avocado cultivars Ryan, Fuerte and Hass. This approach can be used as an alternative for synthetic fungicides, thereby complying with organic requirements, consumer acceptance and reducing environmental pollution.