Postharvest Application of Novel Bio-Based Antifungal Composite Edible Coatings to Reduce Sour Rot and Quality Losses of ‘Valencia’ Oranges

Sour rot, caused by Geotrichum citri-aurantii, can produce significant postharvest losses of citrus fruits and, currently, cannot be effectively controlled the fungicides registered in EU countries. Therefore, novel antifungal edible coatings (ECs) based on pectin and beeswax enriched with eugenol (EG), geraniol (GR), propolis extract (PR) or essential oils (EOs) from Satureja montana (SA), Cinnamomum zeylanicum (CI), Commiphora myrrha (CM), were developed as alternatives to reduce sour rot preserve quality ‘Valencia’ oranges. These natural agents incorporated into EC formulation then applied inoculated ECs EG (2–8 g/kg), GR (4 8 PR (5–20 CM EO (15 g/kg) reduced disease incidence severity 75 100% compared uncoated oranges after 20 days incubation at °C. containing (8 (20 weight loss retained firmness 14 shelf life Furthermore, all tested maintained fruit’s sensory physicochemical quality. Overall, EG-enriched performed best, showing potential a safe, bio-based alternative conventional waxes synthetic for management rot.