**7. Mechanism of antifungal constituents of plant essential oils**

The mechanism of antifungal constituents in plant EO's *viz.* eugenol, eucalyptol & thymol include inhibition of enzymes by oxidization. Their possible concern is to damage membrane integrity and fungal cell wall degradation, which could result possible reduction in infections by post-harvest fungal rots [45]. Plant EO's as an excellent nonhazardous, antifungal agents may be adopted as an alternate management strategy to keep perishable fruits fresh during storage. Antifungal components eugenol in clove essential oil holds excellent inhibitory effect against postharvest storage fungal rots of perishable fruits [46]. One of the important factors concerning postharvest rots management is temperature in maintaining fruit quality prolonged shelf life [47].

Essential oils of various herbs and plants hold no significant impact in reducing weight of fruits during cold storage environment as compared to room incubation. It was reported that after application of EOs encapsulated with inclusion complexes average weight of stone fruits (nectarines) was not significantly reduced in cold storage [48]. Similarly, vapor treatment of *Thymus vulgaris* EO against fungal rots of peach fruit results minimum reduction of weight in cold room [49]. Cinnamon EO was also reported with a minimum reduction in average weight of peaches in cold storage incubation whereas in control (with no treatment) significant weight loss was recorded [50]. Other horticultural produce in cold storage treatments were also observed with minimum weight reduction after applying treatments of (carvacrol, eugenol, thymol, menthol, eucalyptol, oregano, and cinnamon) EO's whereas control fruit was observed with significant alterations in weight loss assessment [48, 51].

Plant essential oils mode of action against fungal postharvest rots is responsible of rupturing plasma membrane of fungal cell wall [52]. Volatile compounds in EO's acts by blocking ergosterol synthesis, internal leakage of fungal cell wall, disintegrating mycelium, disruption of cytoplasmic formation and ultimately triggering towards completed distortion [53–55].
