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Antifungal activity of stingless bee propolis extract edible coating against anthracnose in chili

*
ˡSyed Ahmad Putra Sharifah Nurul Asma’, ˡLob Suhaizan, ˡTufail Ahmad Fauziah

1 Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu,
21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.

* Corresponding author: fauziah.tufail@umt.edu.my

Abstract:

Chili is one of the most important crops in the world due to its taste and nutritional value. In 2020, chili
production in Malaysia only covers 27.6 percent of domestic demand while another 72.4 percent need
to be imported from other countries. Despite having a low yield, chili easily suffers from various pests
and diseases that can cause major losses at field and during postharvest handling. Anthracnose caused
by Colletotrichum gloeosporiodes L. (C. gloeosporiodes) form a very dark sunken lesions on fruit that
destroy its marketable value. The use of fungicide as a means to control anthracnose disease poses
health concerns to consumer and possible build-up of fungicide-resistance pathogen. This study uses
two extraction solvents viz; water and ethanol, to determine the concentration of water extract propolis
(WEP) that demonstrates a comparable effect as ethanolic extract propolis (EEP) against. C.
gloeosporiodes. In vitro tests such as poison food plate and disc diffusion method will be conducted
from 1%, 5 % and 10% of extract concentration to find out the best concentration of WEP and EEP that
can inhibit C. gloeosporiodes. Extract effectiveness will be evaluated during in vivo method by applying
an edible coating, incorporated with propolis extract, on the fruit surface that has been infected with
anthracnose. Series of postharvest quality analyses including disease severity assessment, weight loss,
fruit colour, soluble solid concentration (SSC), firmness, titratable acidity (TA), lycopene, and capsaicin
analysis will be carried out at 3 days interval for 21 days. This study will develop an ideal percentage
of WEP to hinder the anthracnose on chili with comparable or better effect than EEP and a commercial
fungicide. Not only it will reduce the use of chemical pesticides, but it possibly lessens the dependency
on imported chili as this study may extend its shelf-life towards a sustainable food security.

Keywords: In vitro, In vivo, Postharvest, Anthracnose, Capsicum annuum