1/6/2020 An antimicrobial film to protect mangoes - CIRAD

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mangoes

An antimicrobial lm to protect
mangoes
06/2013
After harvesting, mangoes are subject to a range of
diseases that cause substantial losses and are
di cult to control using pesticides due to the
residues left on the fruit. This prompted the idea of
using natural molecules with a broad
antomicrobial spectrum. A CIRAD team has
successfully tested coating mangoes with an
antimicrobial lm containing chitosan, combined
with the lactoperoxidase system, which boosts its
e cacy.

Each year, southern countries su er huge postharvest

fruit and vegetable losses due to product deterioration.
Between 25 and 80% of the crop is lost. Mangoes, the
second most important tropical fruit crop after banana,
are one of the products whose storage poses
problems, due to fungal and bacterial diseases.
With the emergence of fungicide-resistant strains and
increasingly stringent legislation concerning pesticide
use, it is now di cult to control these diseases by
chemical means.
Natural molecules with a broad antimicrobial spectrum
could be a solution. This was the option tested by
CIRAD team: an antimicrobial lm containing chitosan
combined with the lactoperoxidase system.

An enzyme system with a broad antimicrobial

spectrum
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1/6/2020 An antimicrobial film to protect mangoes - CIRAD

The lactoperoxidase enzyme system (LPOS) has a broad

antimicrobial spectrum and is particularly e ective
against pathogenic micro-organisms. It has a
bactericidal e ect against gram-negative bacteria and a
bacteriostatic e ect against gram-positive bacteria.
It also has antifungal and antiviral e ects. It generates
highly reactive intermediate antimicrobial products
such as hypothiocyanite and hypothiocyanous acid,
which inhibit micro-organisms through oxidation of
sulphydryl groups. Its fungicidal and bactericidal e ects
against Candida albicans, Escherichia coli and
Staphylococcus aureus could be boosted by adding
iodine.
The lactoperoxidase system, incorporated into a
polymer matrix by immobilization, absorption or
trapping, is used in the pharmaceutical and food
industries.
Its e cacy when incorporated into lactoserum proteins
and alginate lms has been demonstrated, and when
used in food product coatings, it could prevent
pathogen growth on the surface, where most
deterioration and contamination occurs.

Chitosan, an antifungal protective lm

The lactoperoxidase system can be xed onto chitosan,
a natural polyglucosamine, which contains reactive
amino and hydroxyl groups suitable for chemical
modi cation. When dissolved in an acid solution,
chitosan has a high positive charge on the -NH3+
groups, which can form an aggregate with polyanions.
This characteristic gives chitosan gel excellent
properties, notably a remarkable a nity with proteins.
Moreover, chitosan has antimicrobial properties
capable of protecting fruit against fungal deterioration.
Chitosan could sustain the antimicrobial activity of the
lactoperoxidase system while delaying fruit ripening.

A protective coating for mangoes

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This type of coating was tested on mangoes to prevent

the proliferation of diseases such as bacterial canker
(Xanthomonas campestris pv. Mangifera indica ), stem
end rot (Lasiodiplodia theobromae ) and fruit
anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides ).
The mangoes were treated with three concentrations of
chitosan (0.5%, 1% and 1.5%), with and without the
lactoperoxidase system. Coatings based on 1% chitosan
plus the lactoperoxidase system, with or without
iodine, prevented microbe proliferation and delayed
fruit ripening without causing any physiological
disorders.
They did not alter any ripening parameters: rmness,
respiratory intensity, weight loss or fruit colour. They
can therefore be recommended to protect mangoes
post-harvest.

Photos

Partners
Institut des régions
chaudes (France)
Montpellier SupAgro
(France)

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1/6/2020 An antimicrobial film to protect mangoes - CIRAD

Central University of
Venezuela (Venezuela)
University of Abobo-
Adjamé (Ivory Coast)

For further information

Cissé M., Kouakou Amenan

C., Montet D., Loiseau G.,
Ducamp-Collin M.N., 2013.
Antimicrobial and physical
properties of edible
chitosan lms enhanced by
lactoperoxidase system.
Food Hydrocolloids, 30:
576-580. Doi:
10.1016/j.foodhyd.2012.07.018

Cissé M., Montet D.,

Loiseau G., Ducamp-Collin
M.N., 2012. In uence of the
concentrations of chitosan
and glycerol on edible lm
properties showed by
response surface
methodology. Journal of
Polymers and the
Environment, 20: 830-837.
Doi: 10.1007/s10924-012-
0437-2

Cissé M., Montet D., Tapia

M.S., Loiseau G., Ducamp-
Collin M.N., 2012. In uence
of temperature and relative
humidity on the
immobilized
lactoperoxydase system in
a functional chitosan lm.
Food Hydrocolloids, 28:
361-366. Doi:
10.1016/j.foodhyd.2012.01.012,

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1/6/2020 An antimicrobial film to protect mangoes - CIRAD

Contact

Marie-Noëlle Ducamp
Montpellier, France
Integrated Approach to
Food Quality (UMR
QUALISUD)

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