COATING OF ORANGE FRUIT WITH NANO-SILVER PARTICLES TO MINIMIZING HARMFUL ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION BY CHEMICAL FUNGICIDE

Abstract

This study was aimed to investigate the coating of nanoparticles to minimizing harmful of  chemical fungicide in fruit industrial sector. The Effects of coating fruit surface with different concentrations of Nano-silver  on the development of mycelium growth of, Penicillium digitatum and Aspergillus niger during storage were estimated. Coated treatments with silver recorded fully reduction of the fungal growth (100%,) on surface of  fruit  with concentration of 50 ppm and 100 ppm as compared with uncoated samples and fungicide. Also, the treatment with 100ppm of silver showed a significant decrease in weight loss compared with uncoated fruit. Application of nanotechnology can be an important way to replacing  chemical fungicides in agricultural sector  in future with regard controlling fungal  post-harvest rot in stored  fresh fruit.