Antifungal potential of aqueous extracts of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) by-products against blue mold disease on Persian lime during storage

Coconut by-products are a potential source for the extraction of bioactive compounds, in the aqueous extracts, the content of total phenols of 5.43% could be determined, showing a high antioxidant capacity. The compounds chlorogenic and hydroxybenzoic acids, and gallocatechin, were identified. Persian limes were artificially infected with Penicillium italicum and sprayed with the aqueous extracts. Preventive application of treatments was more effective than curative applications using extract at 10% in fruit stored at 15 °C. Conversely, no significant differences between treatments were noted when fruits were stored at 25 °C. Treatments were effective in reducing lesion extension as well as the number of infected wounds. This study demonstrates the potential application of aqueous extracts of coconut by-products as an alternative to postharvest disease management.