Evaluation of calcium hydroxide, calcium hypochlorite, peracetic acid, and potassium bicarbonate as citrus fruit sanitizers

Author(s)

Dilarri, Guilherme ^[1] ; Cavicchia Zamuner, Caio Felipe ^[1] ; Bacci Jr, Mauricio ; Ferreira, Henrique ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Dept Gen & Appl Biol, Av 24A, 1515 Bela Vista, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP - Brazil

^[2] Bacci Jr, Jr., Mauricio, Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Dept Gen & Appl Biol, Av 24A, 1515 Bela Vista, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY-MYSORE; JUN 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Xanthomonas citri (X. citri) is a quarentenary plant pathogen and the causal agent of the citrus canker. X. citri forms biofilms and remains fixed on the surface of plant tissues, especially on leaves and fruits. Considering this, all the citrus fruits have to be sanitized before they can be commercialized. NaOCl is the main sanitizer used to decontaminate fruits in the world. Due to its toxicity, treatment with NaOCl is no longer accepted by some Europe Union countries. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate potassium bicarbonate (KHCO3), calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)(2)), calcium hypochlorite (Ca(OCl)(2)) and peracetic acid (CH3CO3H) as alternatives to NaOCl for the sanitization of citrus fruit. By monitoring cell respiration and bacterial growth, we determined that peracetic acid and calcium hypochlorite exhibit bactericidal action against X. citri. Time-response growth curves and membrane integrity analyses showed that peracetic acid and calcium hypochlorite target the bacterial cytoplasmatic membrane, which is probably responsible for cell death in the first minutes of contact. The simulation of the sanitization process of citrus fruit in packinghouses showed that only peracetic acid exhibited a performance comparable to NaOCl. Among the tested compounds, peracetic acid constitutes an efficient and safer alternative to NaOCl. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/50162-2 - Protecting plants with antimicrobial peptides and gallates - Pro-Planta
• Grantee: Henrique Ferreira
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/07306-9 - Protection of citrus with antibacterial peptides and gallates
• Grantee: Guilherme Dilarri
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 14/50880-0 - INCT 2014: comparative and functional genomics and citrus-assisted breeding
• Grantee: Marcos Antonio Machado
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants