Ruta chalepensis L. Essential Oil: A New Antisprouting Agent for Potatoes Bioconservation

• Main Authors: Olfa Lengliz, Jamel Mejri, Manef Abderrabba, Rachid Khalifa, Mondher Mejri
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited 2018-01-01
• Series: Journal of Chemistry
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/8547851

The main concern of this work was to find a new biological antisprouting product for potatoes during storage. Ruta chalepensis L. essential oil (RCEO) was for the first time used as a potential sprouting inhibitor for potatoes. To confirm RCEO antisprouting effect, evolution of sprout length and weight loss of potato tubers was determined during a storage period of six weeks under three RCEO different treatments (2%, 4%, and 6%). Sprout final weight was also computed. Then, a screening of RCEO chemical composition was performed. An outstanding antisprouting effect of 6% emulsions concentrations was observed as compared to 2% and 4% emulsions concentrations. Final sprout weight (SW) of untreated samples was 4.66%, while 6% treated samples scored 0.98%. These results were endorsed by high Pearson correlation coefficients (>0.9). Indeed, increasing treatment concentration enhanced the sprout growth inhibition. Identification of RCEO major components showed that 2-undecanone represented 87.18% of total identified components suggesting that this component is the possible active agent of RCEO against potatoes sprouting.