Effect of carboxymethylcellulose-based edible coatings incorporating essential oil on Botrytis cinerea and strawberry attributes

The highly perishable strawberry is susceptible to postharvest fungal infections, such as gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea. Current control methods involve synthetic fungicides, which can leave residues, harm the environment, and lead to resistance. There is a rising interest in safe and eco-friendly pesticide alternatives like essential oils (EOs). In the present study, the antifungal activity of the EOs from Eucalyptus staigeriana, Lippia sidoides, and Pimenta pseudocaryophyllus was evaluated against B. cinerea. An in vitro experiment assessed the direct contact between the fungus and various EOs, identifying the most potent antifungal EO. This EO underwent chemical composition analysis, along with investigations into its impact on pathogen morphology, in vivo activity with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and effects on postharvest and sensory quality of strawberries. In vitro, L. sidoides EO exhibited the most significant antifungal activity, characterized by its major compound thymol, which induced dehydration and rupture of pathogen hyphae. In the in vivo experiment, strawberries treated with CMC and L. sidoides EO showed reduced disease severity. During the 18-day storage period, the postharvest quality of strawberries demonstrated enhancement, characterized by increased antioxidant activity and decreased mass loss, while exhibiting minimal changes in sensory attributes.