Carbonate and bicarbonate salts, alone or in combination,
offered some degree of protection against postharvest pathogens of
citrus fruit
As reported
in the literature, the growth inhibition is probably due to a direct
effect on the pathogen, consisting in a reduction of fungal cell turgor
pressure with a consequent collapse and shrinkage of hyphae
and spores and an inability to sporulate and produce extracellular
degrading enzymes