Effect of benzyl isothiocyanate on tomato fruit infection development by Alternaria alternata

Authors: Troncoso-Rojas, R; Sánchez-Estrada, A¹; Ruelas, C²; García, Hugo S³; Tiznado-Hernández, ME⁴

Source: Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, Volume 85, Number 9, July 2005 , pp. 1427-1434(8)

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Abstract:

Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) is known to be a strong antifungal compound in vitro against different fungi. The effectiveness of benzyl isothiocyanate to control Alternaria alternata growth in vitro and in vivo was tested. BITC in vitro activity was evaluated in A alternata growing on potato dextrose agar and exposed to 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 or 0.4 mg ml^-1. In vivo activity was evaluated by exposing A alternata-inoculated tomato fruits for either 18 or 36 h to 0.28 or 0.56 mg ml^-1 BITC packed on low-density polyethylene film (LDPF) bags. Additionally, the effect of BITC on post-harvest physiology and tomato quality throughout storage at 20 °C was evaluated daily by monitoring respiration rate and ethylene production, whereas total soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity and fresh weight loss were measured every 3 days. Results showed that the minimal inhibitory concentration of BITC in vitro was 0.1 mg ml^-1. A combined use of 0.56 mg ml^-1 BITC with LDPF for 18 h was the optimum treatment to control Alternaria rot in packed tomato fruit. No effect of BITC on respiration rate, ethylene production, total soluble solids, pH, weight loss and titratable acidity was observed. Results suggest that BITC can be used as a post-harvest treatment to control Alternaria rot in tomato fruit without detrimental effects on the tomato post-harvest quality. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry

Keywords: benzyl isothiocyanate; natural antifungal; Alternaria rot; tomato fruit; post-harvest physiology

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.2129

Affiliations: 1: Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, AC (CIAD, AC), Dirección de Tecnología de Alimentos de Origen Vegetal, Carretera a la Victoria Km 0.6, La Victoria, Hermosillo, Sonora, México 83000 México 2: Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, AC (CIAD, AC), Dirección de Tecnología de Alimentos de Origen Vegetal, Carretera a la Victoria Km 0.6, La Victoria, Hermosillo, Sonora, México 83000 México 3: UNIDA Instituto Tecnológico de Veracruz, Veracruz, México 4: Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, AC (CIAD, AC), Dirección de Tecnología de Alimentos de Origen Vegetal, Carretera a la Victoria Km 0.6, La Victoria, Hermosillo, Sonora, México 83000 México

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