Influence of postharvest applications of some edible coating on storage life and quality attributes of Navel orange fruit during cold storage.
Youssef A. R. M., Ali E. A. M., Emam H. E.
Author Affiliation: Horticultural Crops Technology Dept., National Research Centre, 33 Bohouth St., Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
International Journal of ChemTech Research 8 : 2189-2200
Abstract : The main benefits of edible active coatings are to maintain the quality and extend shelf life of fresh fruits and prevent microbial spoilage. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of some edible coating such as chitosan concentrations (0.1, 0.5 and 1%), mango leaves extract and mango leaves extract with (2% gelatin) on Navel orange fruit to extending storage life and maintain fruit quality during two successive seasons of 2012 and 2013. Fruit quality characteristics i.e. fruit firmness, respiration rate, total acidity, soluble solid content, ascorbic acid content, juice weight, juice volume, cellulase and pectinase enzyme activities were assessed periodically after storage at 5°C and 85-90% RH. Results indicated that chitosan coating at 1% and mango leaves extract with gelatin at 2% could be more effective in keeping fruit firm with the least respiration rate, titratables acidity and the highest value for soluble solid content, ascorbic acid, weight of juice and volume during storage period at 5°C than all other coating treatment compared with untreated fruit (control). Navel orange fruits showed a great increase in cellulase activity compared with gradual decrease in Pectinase activity after cold storage period. The results of this study showed that chitosan coatings and mango leaves extract with gelatin at 2% have an excellent potential to be used on Navel orange fruit to maintain quality and extending shelf life.