| Sumario: | Botrytis cinerea (BC) and Penicillium expansum (PE), the causal agents of gray and blue
molds on several fresh fruits and vegetables, are among the most important postharvest
pathogens worldwide. Agricultural by-products can be rich in bioactive compounds, many
with antifungal properties. They could be a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides
used to control postharvest fungal diseases. The extraction of value-added compounds from
agricultural by-products contributes to circular economy and the EU Green Deal as well.
Almond skin (AMS) and avocado seed (AVS) extracts were obtained using ultrasoundassisted
extraction and their total phenolic content and total antioxidant capacity were
determined. The capacity of extracts to inhibit BC and PE was investigated using a microtiter
assay. AVS showed the highest inhibition capacity, with 99% inhibition of both BC and PE,
while AMS inhibited BC and PE by 65 and 99%, respectively. The results suggest that the
presence of phenols and antioxidants in the extracts may be responsible for the antifungal
activity and that these by-product extracts have potential as novel eco-friendly antifungal
agents for the management of postharvest diseases. Further in vivo studies are needed to
validate these findings.
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