Application of Essential Oils Extracted from Peel Wastes of Four Orange Varieties to Control Anthracnose Caused by and on Mangoes.

A huge amount of orange peel waste is annually discharged into the environment. Processing of this waste for the control of post-harvest fruit diseases can reduce environmental pollution. Essential oils (EOs) from fruit peels of × (Sanh cultivar) and (Xoan, Mat and Navel cultivar) were investigated for their ability to control anthracnose caused by and on mangoes. EOs were extracted by hydro-distillation and analyzed by GC-MS and GC-FID. The antifungal activity of the EOs was determined by in vitro and in vivo assays. The Mat cultivar had the highest extraction yield of 3% FW, followed by Xoan (2.9%), Sanh (2.2%), and Navel (1%). The chemical composition of the EOs was similar, with limonene as the main compound (around 96%). The antifungal activity of EOs was not different, with a minimum fungicidal concentration of 16% for both fungi. The disease inhibition of EOs increased with their concentration. The highest inhibition of anthracnose caused by both fungi on mangoes was achieved at 16% EO. EOs had no adverse effect on mango quality (pH, total soluble solids, total acidity, color and brightness of mangoes), except firmness and weight loss at high concentrations (16%). Orange EOs can be used as bio-fungicides to control mango anthracnose at high concentrations.