Introduction.Peach brown rot caused by the fungus Monilinia fructicola is a major disease leadingto considerable economic loss during storage. Our previous studyuncovered the striking inhibition of the natural alkaloid berberineagainst M. fructicola. Materials and methods.A berberine-chitosan composite membrane (BCCM) able to slowly releaseberberine was prepared and used for peach preservation. The examinedfruits were stored at 4 °C and treated as follows: (I) control fruits withoutpackaging; (ii) fruits that were transiently immersed in pre-solidifiedBCCM liquid and taken out; (iii) fruit coating either with a BCCM,or with a membrane containing chitosan only (without berberine),and (iv) fruit coating with a PVC membrane. Results and discussion.The group immersed in BCCM showed a high infection rate due to thecytotoxicity of acetic acid, but the coating group showed only a10% infection rate after 40 days of storage. Moreover, the BCCM-coatinggroup showed a significantly lower infection rate than that coatedwith chitosan membrane (without berberine), clearly indicating theantimicrobial activity of berberine therein. Consequently, packedin BCCM and stored at 4 °C, peach fruits could be well preservedover 40 days with very low infection. Conclusion. Consideringits safety and low cost, the berberine-containing chitosan composite membranecould be applicable in controlling diseases during peach storage.

Introduction. Films act as semi-permeable gaseous barriers capable of maintaining fruit postharvest quality; thus coatings consisting of non-traditional sources may represent an alternative tool for producers. The objective of our work was to investigate the effect of a galactomannan coating on postharvest quality and physiology of ‘Tommy Atkins’ mangoes. Materials and methods. Physiologically mature mangoes were divided into four lots and stored for 16 d. Control uncoated fruits (lot 1) were stored at ambient temperature (25 °C), the second lot was uncoated and refrigerated (14 °C), the third lot was coated and stored at ambient temperature, and the fourth lot was coated and refrigerated. Fruit were analyzed for physicochemical quality parameters, antioxidant enzymatic activity and lipid peroxidation. Results and discussion. Control fruit (lot 1) lost almost twice the weight of uncoated refrigerated (lot 2) and coated mangoes at both temperatures (lots 3 and 4); the fruit of lot 1 softened faster. Regarding the antioxidant enzymes, the activity of superoxide dismutase decreased throughout storage without statistical differences between treatments and catalasic activity was significantly inhibited under refrigeration. At ambient temperature, coating delayed the catalasic activity peak to day 12, which was coincident with the lowest lipid peroxidation degree, evidencing the association of free radical production and scavenging mechanisms. The galactomannan coating was efficient in reducing weight loss and delaying softening; thus, it maintained quality of ‘Tommy Atkins’ mangoes for a longer period of time than the control treatment during storage at ambient temperature. Refrigeration (14 °C) enhanced the performance of the galactomannan coating; it was effective in slowing down the metabolism and delaying softening to day 12.

Introduction. In-package biofumigation with the volatile-producing fungus Muscodor albus was tested to control fungal decay in organic table grapes stored at a commercial packinghouse. Materials and methods. Sachets containing two different amounts of activated M. albus culture were inserted into shipping boxes containing approximately 4.5 kg of ‘Thompson Seedless’ or ‘Red Seedless’ table grapes. The volatiles were contained inside the boxes either by wrapping pallets of the boxes externally with plastic film after pre-cooling (pallet wrapping) or by using a modified atmosphere liner inside each box. Decay incidence was evaluated after 7 weeks of storage at 0 °C. Results. The M. albus sachets reduced decay incidence among ‘Red Seedless’ table grapes in both wrapped pallets and boxes with liners. In this cultivar, the modified atmosphere liner alone reduced decay incidence by about 70% and the M. albus treatment in the liner further reduced decay incidence, regardless of the amount of M. albus used. The combination of the M. albus sachet and the modified atmosphere liner proved to be the most effective decay control treatment. Decay incidence was lower among ‘Thompson Seedless’ table grapes and a significant decay control was only observed after the grapes had been allowed to warm up after storage with the 50-g rates applied inside the liner. No adverse effects were associated with the treatment or the liners. Discussion. Based on our results, biofumigation with M. albus sachets is compatible with the commercial handling of organic table grapes and could provide significant improvement in their shelf life.