Development of flexible antimicrobial zein coatings with essential oils for the inhibition of critical pathogens on the surface of whole fruits: Test of coatings on inoculated melons

This study aimed to develop essential oil (EO)-containing antimicrobial coatings for the inhibition of pathogenic bacteria contamination on fruit peels. Incorporation of eugenol (EUG), carvacrol (CAR), and thymol (THY) into films at ≥ 1% (w/w) eliminated the typical brittleness of zein films. However, EUG outperformed CAR and THY in terms of mechanical properties. Films with ≥ 2% (w/w) CAR and THY and ≥ 3% EUG showed clear zones against L. innocua and E. coli in agar medium at 37 °C. All EO-containing films also inhibited L. innocua and E. coli inoculated at their surfaces by minimum 3.9 and 2.7 decimal (D) within 1 day at 10 °C. Moreover, 2% EUG-containing zein coatings caused 2–3 decimal reduction in L. innocua and E. coli counts of inoculated melon surfaces at 10 °C. Unlike the bare zein coatings, flexible EUG-containing films on melons did not show cracking or detachment. Zein films loaded with EUG showed a highly hydrophilic surface. The best oxygen barrier performance was observed for the EUG-richest formulation (i.e., EUG at 3%), and this was attributed to a homogenizing effect of the EO that eventually led to a denser and hole-free network. This work suggested that flexible coatings of zein containing EOs could inhibit pathogens embedded in the rough peel surface of melons.