title: ANTIFUNGAL CHITOSAN-BASED FILMS AND COATINGS CONTAINING ESSENTIAL OILS FOR FRUIT APPLICATIONS
abstract: Chitosan films and coatings have been obtained, by incorporating different essential oils (EO) and using different homogenization conditions of the film-forming emulsions, in order to obtain antifungal materials for fruit preservation. The effect of oleic acid (OA) on the stability of the initial emulsions and on the film properties was analysed. Coatings were applied to control fungal decay in strawberries. The blending of chitosan with methylcellulose (MC) was also used in coating applications