The use of essential oils for postharvest decay control. A review

Abstract

Food safety is one of the major issues related to fresh fruit and vegetables. The preservation of the 'freshness' quality of these products is relevant due to their economical impact. This chapter is a comprehensive review of the use of essential oils from different sources and their constituents on the control of postharvest decay and overall quality preservation of fresh fruit and vegetables. An overview on the most significant postharvest diseases and their impact, as well as on the mainly used synthetic chemicals and their side-effects has been included. Emphasis has been on the sources of essential oils and their constituents studied up to now, and their effects on controlling postharvest diseases, either in vitro or in vivo, and their effect on overall quality and storage life of fresh commodities. Issues regarding their impact on human health and the environment have also been analysed. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.