MICRO-ENCAPSULATION OF VOLATILE COMPOUNDS INTO CYCLODEXTRINS

摘要

Systems are provided for preventing post harvest fungal diseases of food systems, such as but not limited to fresh produce, such as but not limited to berries (e.g., blueberries). For example, various anti-fungal compounds can be incorporated or encapsulated into cyclodextrins, such as but not limited to a, ß and/or ? cyclodextrins. The encapsulated anti-fungal materials can be used alone (e.g., brought into proximity to the produce) or incorporated into film and/or packaging materials that are used in the packing and/or storing of produce. By way of a non-limiting example, the anti-fungal compounds can include volatile compounds such as but not limited to acetaldehyde, hexanal and 2E-hexenal. The cyclodextrins provide controlled release of the volatiles over a period of at least several days such that they prevent or inhibit fungal growth, including but not limited to several species of the Colletotrichum, Alternaria, Botrytis, Penicillium and/or Aspergillus genera