Quality of 'San Andreas' strawberries and control of gray mold with essential melaleuca oil.

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the effect of tea tree essential oil (Melaleuca alternifolia; TTEO) on postharvest rot by Botrytis cinerea as well as on the physical‐chemical quality and volatile profile of 'San Andreas' strawberries. The fruits were treated by fumigation with TTEO at concentrations of 0 (control), 100, 300, and 600 µl L−1. The TTEO application reduced the development of gray mold, decreasing the strength for flesh penetration and causing a red color in the most opaque epidermis. The TTEO reduced the total phenolic compounds content and peroxidase enzyme activity. As the TTEO dose increased, the oil volatiles characteristic was in greater quantities than the characteristic aromas of strawberries. The application of the TTEO reduced the development of the disease; however, there were undesirable changes in the physical‐chemical quality of the fruits as well as in the volatile profile. Practical application: This study analyzed the effects of treatment with tea tree essential oil fumigation in 'San Andreas' strawberry as a way to reduce postharvest rot gray mold and preserve fruit quality. Tea tree essential oil reduced the development of the gray mold, increasing the strength for flesh penetration and causing a red color in the most opaque epidermis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]