EDIBLE COATING CONTAINING CARVACROL FOR POSTHARVEST MICROBIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION OF TOMATO

Tomato suffers a huge loss in the postharvest period due to fungal disease. The aim of work was investigated the antifungal activity of cassava starch/gelatin-based edible coating containing carvacrol against Alternaria alternata using in vitro and in vivo analysis. Coating solution was prepared using cassava starch, gelatin type A, glycerol, carvacrol, Miglyol 812 and lecithin (ROMIO et al., 2017). A blank edible coating was prepared and three active edible coating (0.15 mg carvacrol. g-1 coating solution, 0.3 mg carvacrol. g-1 coating solution e 0.6 mg carvacrol. g-1 coating solution). In vitro analysis was evaluated by liquid growth inhibition assay. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) were determined. For in vivo assay, a total of 165 grape tomato were superficially disinfected. After, the tomatoes were immersed in coating solution. One wound was made on each fruit and A. alternata was inoculated. The effect of edible coatings on disease incidence was evaluated daily for 5 days. The MIC and MFC results of the in vitro antifungal analysis were 0.3 mg carvacrol. g-1 coating solution and 0.6 mg carvacrol. g-1 coating solution, respectively. Similar results were described to Colletotrichum sp. (BRETSCHNEIDER et al., 2019). Carvacrol packaging film based on polyamide 6 exhibit in vitro antifungal efficacy against A. alternata (SHEMESH et al., 2016). As expected, the fruit deterioration increased over the days for all treatments. The control was fully deteriorated on the third day indicating that the coating has protective action against physical damage to fruits. The 0.60 mg of carvacrol g-1 coating solution was the most effective in inhibiting the growth of A. alternata in vivo analysis. These results suggest that the application of edible coating containing carvacrol could be used as alternative for the reduction of microbiological deterioration of tomato in the postharvest period.