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Nano‐chitosan as an antimicrobial agent in preservative solutions for cut flowers

Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology

May 2021
96(8)

DOI:10.1002/jctb.6766

Authors:

Poliana Spricigo

University of São Paulo

Lucimeire Pilon

Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA)

Márcia R. de Moura Aouada

São Paulo State University

Show all 8 authorsHide

BACKGROUND Cut flowers require proper postharvest stem hydration to prolong vase life. Nano‐sized chitosan is an effective antimicrobial agent that has several potential agricultural applications. In this study, we compared the efficacies of solutions containing chitosan nanoparticles, regular chitosan particles, citric acid, and distilled and tap water controls in treating cut gerbera inflorescences during postharvest storage. Relative water uptake (RWU), transpiration rate (TR), water balance (WB), ligule color, solution pH, stem bending, stem‐end blockage, and counts of bacteria, mold and yeast were investigated. RESULTS The solution containing chitosan nanoparticles prevented stem bending, enabled higher RWU (41.8 g kg⁻¹ day⁻¹), established a suitable WB, and controlled microbial growth more efficiently than the other solutions. The chitosan nanoparticle solution strongly inhibited molds and yeasts. CONCLUSION The results of this study demonstrated that nano‐chitosan is a promising postharvest preservative for cut gerbera inflorescences. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

Relative water uptake (a) (RWU, g kg⁻¹ day ⁻¹), Transpiration rate (b) (TR, g kg⁻¹ day⁻¹), Water balance (c) (WB, g kg⁻¹ day⁻¹) of gerbera cut inflorescences maintained in preservative solutions during a 15‐day postharvest storage (T = 5 ± 2 °C; RH = 80 ± 10%) in the first experimental set. Values are the means of five cut inflorescences ± SEM. Means followed by the same letter do not differ significantly at α = 0.05.

…

Stem bending of gerbera cut inflorescences measured by curvature angle (°) during a 15‐day postharvest storage (T = 5 ± 2 °C; RH = 80 ± 10%) in the first experimental set. Values are the means of five cut inflorescences ± SEM. Means followed by the same letter do not differ significantly at α = 0.05.

…

Mesophiles (a) and mold and yeast (b) counts in preservative solutions used in a 15‐day postharvest storage of gerbera cut inflorescences (T = 5 ± 2 °C; RH = 80 ± 10%). Values are the means of five cut inflorescences ± SEM. Means followed by the same letter do not differ significantly at α = 0.05. *No growth.

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Microbial growth in xylem vessels of gerbera stem ends: (a) bacterial colony and (b) mycelial germination.

…

Microbial growth in xylem vessels of gerbera stem ends on the 7th day of storage: (a) distilled water; (b) tap water; (c) 2% citric acid; and (d) 110‐nm nano‐chitosan.

…

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Research Article

Received: 30 December 2020 Revised: 18 April 2021 Accepted article published: 21 April 2021 Published online in Wiley Online Library: 5 May 2021

(wileyonlinelibrary.com) DOI 10.1002/jctb.6766

Nano-chitosan as an antimicrobial agent in

preservative solutions for cut ﬂowers

Poliana C Spricigo,aLucimeire Pilon,bJéssica P Trento,c

Márcia R de Moura,dKely S Bonﬁm,dMilene C Mitsuyuki,eLuiz H C Mattosoe

and Marcos D Ferreirae

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cut ﬂowers require proper postharvest stem hydration to prolong vase life. Nano-sized chitosan is an effective

antimicrobial agent that has several potential agricultural applications. In this study, we compared the efﬁcacies of solutions

containing chitosan nanoparticles, regular chitosan particles, citric acid, and distilled and tap water controls in treating cut ger-

bera inﬂorescences during postharvest storage. Relative water uptake (RWU), transpiration rate (TR), water balance (WB), ligule

color, solution pH, stem bending, stem-end blockage, and counts of bacteria, mold and yeast were investigated.

RESULTS: The solution containing chitosan nanoparticles prevented stem bending, enabled higher RWU (41.8 g kg

−1

day

−1

established a suitable WB, and controlled microbial growth more efﬁciently than the other solutions. The chitosan nanoparticle

solution strongly inhibited molds and yeasts.

CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that nano-chitosan is a promising postharvest preservative for cut ger-

bera inﬂorescences.

Keywords: water uptake; cut inﬂorescences; microorganism; xylem blockage; chitosan; antimicrobial activity

INTRODUCTION

Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii) belongs to the Asteraceae family, and

it is one of the top ten best-selling cut ﬂowers in the world.

Brightly colored ﬂowers and turgid tissues contribute to the com-

mercial value of gerberas, and both growers and consumers

expect these qualities to be maintained throughout the produc-

tion chain.

Ornamental ﬂowers are highly susceptible to mechanical injury

and dehydration, thus requiring careful postharvest handling. Cut

ﬂower vase life is correlated with turgidity, which is determined by

the balance between water absorption through the xylem vessels

and water loss through the stomata.

In order to prevent wilting

and maintain ﬂower quality during postharvest storage, relative

water uptake ideally should be higher than the transpiration rate

(TR).

Nevertheless, occlusions, which usually occur in the xylem,

impair water absorption and cause premature ﬂower wilting. Air

embolisms in the xylem vessels increasing enzymatic activity after

ﬂower cutting, and microbial growth in the vase solution are

reported causes of these occlusions. Furthermore, microorgan-

isms and/or their secretions may block the xylem.

Various materials based on antimicrobial agents have proven

to be effective in controlling microbial proliferation in vase

solutions. For instance, silver nitrate,

6,7

silver thiosulfate,

8,9

hydroxyquinoline-based compounds,

10,11

benzalkonium,

sodium dichloroisocyanurate,

aluminum sulfate,

benzylade-

nine

and essential oils

have been tested and proposed as

preservatives.

In recent years, the use of nanomaterials for the control of bac-

teria has attracted the attention of researchers around the globe.

Nanotechnology has had a positive impact on agriculture, too,

owing to the use of nanoparticles that improve physicochemical

properties and reduce the quantity of material required to pro-

duce the desired effects.

Nanoparticles range in dimension from 1 to 100 nm and are

grouped into organic and inorganic nanoparticles.

Particle sur-

face activation and increased surface area are characteristics that

potentiate other substances such as antimicrobials, and these

properties can be exploited for vase solution formulation. Preser-

vative solutions containing graphene oxide, silver and copper

nanoparticles have been proposed for cut gerberas and

*Correspondence to: MD Ferreira, Embrapa Instrumentação, Rua XV de Novem-

bro, 1452, São Carlos, SP 13561-906, Brazil. E-mail: marcos.david@embrapa.br

aDepartamento de Produção Vegetal, Universidade de São Paulo (USP/ESALQ),

Piracicaba, Brazil

bPesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Embrapa Hortaliças, Brasília, Brazil

cCiências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos,

Brazil

dDepartamento de Física e Química, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP),

Faculdade de Engenharia, Ilha Solteira, Brazil

ePesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Embrapa Instrumentação, São Carlos, Brazil

2168

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Article

Jul 2019

Chitosan is a biopolymer obtained from chitin, one of the most abundant and renewable materials on Earth. Chitin is a primary component of cell walls in fungi, the exoskeletons of arthropods such as crustaceans, e.g., crabs, lobsters and shrimps, and insects, the radulae of molluscs, cephalopod beaks, and the scales of fish and lissamphibians. The discovery of chitin in 1811 is attributed to Henri Braconnot while the history of chitosan dates back to 1859 with the work of Charles Rouget. The name of chitosan was, however, introduced in 1894 by Felix Hoppe-Seyler. Chitosan has attracted major scientific and industrial interests from the late 1970s due to its particular macromolecular structure, biocompatibility, biodegradability and other intrinsic functional properties. Chitosan and derivatives have practical applications in the food industry, agriculture, pharmacy, medicine, cosmetology, textile and paper industries, and in chemistry. In recent years, chitosan has also received much attention in dentistry, ophthalmology, biomedicine and bioimaging, hygiene and personal care, veterinary medicine, packaging industry, agrochemistry, aquaculture, functional textiles and cosmetotextiles, catalysis, chromatography, beverage industry, photography, wastewater treatment and sludge dewatering, and biotechnology. Nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals are actually growing markets, and therapeutic and biomedical products should be the next markets in the development of chitosan. Chitosan is also the object of numerous fundamental studies. In this review, we highlight a selection of works on chitosan applications published over the past two decades.

Recent advances in application of chitosan and its derivatives in functional finishing of textiles

Chapter

Jan 2019

Antibacterial hop extracts encapsulated in nanochitosan matrices

Article

Sep 2018
INT J BIOL MACROMOL

Hops and the components extracted from them are well known antibacterial agents used in beers and as food preservatives, in formulations for topical applications on their own or together with other antimicrobial agents, in hormone replacement therapy, as antioxidants, tumor development antagonists, and angiogenesis inhibitors. Their shortcomings: very low bioavailability, bitter taste, and susceptibility to oxidative decomposition have limited their applications. We propose nanosized chitosan, an inexpensive, readily available biopolymer with a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity, as carrier for lupulone (L) and xanthohumol (X), two components of hops. Chitosan nanoparticles (CNP) and chitosan-based nanocomposites encapsulating lupulone (CNL) and xanthohumol (CNX) were prepared by ionotropic gelation using sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) as crosslinker. Different preparative ratios and conditions were investigated and the nanoparticles obtained were characterized by FTIR, colloidal titration, size and zeta potential, and antimicrobial activity. The kinetics of the release of L/X from composites was studied in vitro. All the nanoparticles were active against several Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and Candida strains. Synergistic interactions were observed in all cases, although hops are known mainly for their activity against Gram-positive bacteria. All nanoparticles showed good stability over several months.

Chitin and Chitosan, The Impact and Prospects of Green Chemistry for Textile Technology

Chapter

Jan 2018

Value Addition in Flowers

Chapter

Feb 2015

Floriculture is presently considered as the most lucrative agro-enterprise in terms of profit making. As the flowers are the utmost perishable horticultural farm produce, there remains some hindrance in proper marketing following standard postharvest management practices by the common farmers. Hence, value addition by the agro-industries is another important arena for proper utilisation of fresh ornamentals in either garden-fresh or processed form. Different kinds of value-added products are nowadays formulated and marketed by the companies which include essential oils, flavours, fragrance, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical compounds, insecticidal and nematicidal compounds, pigments and natural dye, vanilla-based products, gulkand, rose water, etc. Besides floristry items, flower arrangements and floral ornaments are important value addition with the fresh flowers and other ornamentals. Another important arena is the production of dry/dehydrated flowers in which India has achieved a considerable success regarding in-house production and worldwide marketing. The different methods for the production of value-added products from flowers and other ornamentals are discussed in this chapter.

Flower breeding and genetics: Issues, challenges and opportunities for the 21st century

Book

Jan 2006

N.O. Anderson

Flowers are essential crops which beautify interiorscapes, outdoor landscapes and enhance human health. Floriculture is one of the fastest-growing sectors of commercial agriculture world-wide with many highly profitable crops. Such a diversity of new and domesticated flower crops is created by public and private sector flower breeders. This book provides a unique and valuable resource on the many issues and challenges facing flower breeders, as well as the industry at-large. In this volume, the first comprehensive assemblage of its kind, a team of 32 international authorities has contributed to make this book a 'must-have' reference to research and develop flower crops for the 21st century consumers. Part 1 of this book (flower breeding program issues) contains unique features of interest to horticultural professionals and students, include coverage of plant protection strategies, cultivar trialing methodology, germplasm collection/preservation, preventing invasiveness, and other timely topics. The collective body of knowledge for 24 flower crops (Part 2: Crop-specific Breeding and Genetics) represents the in-depth science and art of breeding technology available for bedding plants, flowering potted plants, cut flowers, and herbaceous perennials. Each author provides crop-specific history, evolution, biology, taxonomy, state-of-the-art breeding/genetics, classical/molecular technologies, species traits, interspecific hybridization, and directions for future development/enhancement.

Nano‐chitosan as an antimicrobial agent in preservative solutions for cut flowers

Abstract and Figures

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