Curative activity of postharvest GRAS salt treatments to control citrus sour rot caused by Geotrichum citri-aurantii.

The effectiveness of the "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) salts potassium sorbate (PS), sodium benzoate (SB), sodium ethylparaben (SEP) and sodium methylparaben (SMP) to control sour rot, caused by Geotrichum citri-aurantii, was assessed by dipping economically important citrus species and cultivars in aqueous solutions for 30, 60 or 150 s at 20 °C, followed by examination after 8 d of storage at 28 °C. Curative activity was determined because the fruit were inoculated 24 h prior to treatment. Dipping fruit for 60 s in SMP (200 mM), SEP (200 mM) or SB (3% w/v) were very effective and reduced sour rot incidence and severity by up to 90%. Their effectiveness was similar or superior to that of the conventional fungicide propiconazole (PCZ). In contrast, PS (200 mM) did not control sour rot on 'Oronules' or 'Ortanique' mandarins, but it reduced sour rot incidence on 'Barnfield' oranges by 50% compared to inoculated, water-treated control fruit. Sour rot was better controlled on oranges than on mandarins. Furthermore, heating the solutions to 50 °C enhanced their effectiveness, while post-treatment rinsing of the fruit with tap water reduced their effectiveness. Dipping 'Valencia Late' oranges in SB (3% w/v) or SMP (200 mM) for 60 s followed by long storage for up to 8 weeks at 5 °C and 90% RH, reduced sour rot incidence from 55% among water-treated control fruit to 2 to 6%, and matched the effectiveness of PCZ. No fruit in any test were visibly harmed. Both SB and SMP salts could be potential alternatives to conventional fungicides, such as PCZ or guazatine, for the integrated postharvest management of citrus sour rot.