Articles
Curative efficacy of slightly acidic and alkaline electrolyzed water against Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium expansum on whole ‘Granny Smith’ apples
Article number
1422_43
Pages
355 – 362
Language
English
Abstract
Postharvest diseases are a serious issue faced by the pome fruit industry globally. Penicillium expansum and Botrytis cinerea are the two major postharvest fungal pathogens causing rots during storage.
Over the years, fungicides have been extensively applied to reduce postharvest losses, but pathogen resistance has heightened public concerns, which has led to an increased research interest in safer antifungal alternatives.
Thus, this study aimed to investigate the use of electrolyzed water (EW) treatments as an alternative approach for fruit decay management using ‘Granny Smith’ apples as a case study.
Varying concentration of acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW, pH=6.6; oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), >850 mV) and alkaline electrolyzed water (AlEW, pH=11; ORP, >-900 mV) were used as curative treatments against B. cinerea and P. expansum (in vivo) in inoculated apples.
Both the SAEW and AIEW treatments significantly reduced lesion zones of decay across all concentrations in comparison to the control (p≤0.05). Curative efficacy against B. cinerea and P. expansum was most effective at the highest concentration of 300 mg L‑1, followed by 200 mg L‑1 for treated apples, while lowest concentration of 100 mg L‑1 was not effective against both pathogens.
These findings therefore suggest the potential of either SAEW or AIEW treatments as an effective anti-fungal treatment against B. cinerea and P. expansum for better preservation of apples.
Over the years, fungicides have been extensively applied to reduce postharvest losses, but pathogen resistance has heightened public concerns, which has led to an increased research interest in safer antifungal alternatives.
Thus, this study aimed to investigate the use of electrolyzed water (EW) treatments as an alternative approach for fruit decay management using ‘Granny Smith’ apples as a case study.
Varying concentration of acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW, pH=6.6; oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), >850 mV) and alkaline electrolyzed water (AlEW, pH=11; ORP, >-900 mV) were used as curative treatments against B. cinerea and P. expansum (in vivo) in inoculated apples.
Both the SAEW and AIEW treatments significantly reduced lesion zones of decay across all concentrations in comparison to the control (p≤0.05). Curative efficacy against B. cinerea and P. expansum was most effective at the highest concentration of 300 mg L‑1, followed by 200 mg L‑1 for treated apples, while lowest concentration of 100 mg L‑1 was not effective against both pathogens.
These findings therefore suggest the potential of either SAEW or AIEW treatments as an effective anti-fungal treatment against B. cinerea and P. expansum for better preservation of apples.
Publication
Authors
N.E. Nyamende, Z.A. Belay, O.J. Caleb
Keywords
anti-fungal activity, fungal pathogens, postharvest disease management, fruit quality and safety
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