Efficacy of citral vapour in controlling citrus green mould

Citral, a monoterpene aldehyde, was examined in its in vitro and in vivo effects on green mould (Penicillium digitatum). The monoterpenes limonene and linalool were also evaluated for comparison.
In vitro testing showed citral vapour at 1 to 5 µL disc^‑1 significantly inhibited fungal growth compared to the untreated control, limonene and linalool.
Inoculated Navel oranges were fumigated with citral, limonene and linalool at 20°C inside sealed containers for 6, 12, 24 and 48 h.
Citral and linalool vapour treatment significantly inhibited fungal wastage compared to control with magnitude of effectiveness being exposure for 24 > 12 > 6 h with citral having greater reduction of fungal wastage than linalool.
Fumigation with limonene showed no antifungal activity.
Citral did not show full inhibition of green mould decay in Navel oranges, however, the treatment did not cause fruits’ rind injury.
It would be worth to conduct further research as fumigation with citral has potential to provide an alternative decay or green mould control in citrus fruit.

V Asia Symposium on Quality Management in Postharvest Systems

M.M. Rahman, R.B.H. Wills, M.C. Bowyer, J.B. Golding, T. Kirkman, P. Pristijono

citral, Penicillium digitatum, monoterpene, fumigation, green mould

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2022.1336.31