Evaluation the antifungal effect of fennel essence on post harvest life of golden delicious apple and comparison its effect with carbendazim and thiabendazole fungicide

ABSTRACT: In order to investigate the antifungal effect of medicinal plant essence on post harvest life of Golden Delicious apple and comparison its effect with chemical treatments, this experiment was conducted in completely randomized design (CRD) with 10 treatments and 3 replications. Treatments consists: control (inoculated with Penicillium fungi without any treatments), dipping in solutions Thiabendazole and Carbendazim at three concentration range (1000, 1500 and 2000 mg/L) for 3-5 minute and medicinal plant essence (Fennel) 400, 800 and 1200 mg/L. Treated fruits were stored under cold storage for 3 months. At the end of experiment, decay amount, TSS, juice pH, total acid (TA), TSS/TA ratio, weight loss, increasing the percent of TSS and pH were measured. Results showed that quality and quantity of Golden Delicious apple during storage were changed, but this change was different depending on treatment type. Data showed that minimum percentage of weight loss, high value of TSS and TSS/TA ratio was in Fennel treatment essence (800 mg/L). Decay percentage in Fennel (800 mg/l), Thiabendazole 1.5 g/L and Carbendazim 2 g/L were equal. The TSS of Golden Delicious apple increased from beginning to the end of experiment in storage. By increase of medicinal plant essence (Fennel) the percentage of decay and TSS decreased and weight loss increased. The maximum of TSS/TA amount was observed in Fennel essence (800 and 1200 mg/L).