Biofumigation for controlling post-harvest fruit pathogens

Isothiocyanates (ITCs), produced from the catalyzed hydrolisis of glucosinolates conatiend in defatted Brassica meals by endogenous myrosinase, were tested in vivo trials to control two post-harvest pathogens of stone fruits and pears: Monilinia laxa and Penicillium expansum. The aim of this preliminary study was to determine the optimum ITC concentration, temperature, time fo treatment, to control the pathogens avoiding any phytotoxicity on fruit. Before storage, inoculated fruits were treated with ITCs in a cabinet (0.1 mc) changing treatment time and ITC concentration. Using allyl-ITC, pathogens were controlled more than 90% at an average concentration lower than 1 mg/L and a time of fruit treatment of 8 hours. M. laxa appears to be more sensitive than P. expansum to these molecules. In addition, ITCs proved to be activ ealso against thiabendazole resistant strains. The ecouraging results have led to the assembling of a pre-pilot plant for fruits treatment, using ITCs produced from endogenous glucosinolates-myrosinase system of Brassicaceae defatted meal.