Fig. 3 reveals the fungal growth incidence on bread samples
packed with pure chitosan and chitosan-based composite
films.
The sample packed in low-density polyethylene (LDPE) served as
the control. Visible fungal growth appeared on the surface of the
control sample after 3 days of storage at 24 C. Delayed
development of fungal was observed in all samples packed with
pure chitosan and chitosan-based composite
films. Fungal growth
was detected on the pure chitosan
film (CG0) packed sample on
day 5. The antifungal activity of chitosan-based composite
films
notably increased with an increasing content of GFSE, with fungal
growth only observed on day 8 for the sample packed with 0.5% v/v
GFSE chitosan-based
film (CG1), day 9 for the sample packed with
1.0% v/v GFSE chitosan-based
film (CG2) and subsequently on day
10 for the sample packed with 1.5% v/v GFSE chitosan-based
film
(CG3). Results from the preliminary antifungal activity evaluation
indicated that the incorporation of GFSE into pure chitosan
film
improved the antifungal properties of the
film and significantly
retarded the proliferation of fungal on bread samples.