Coatings based on chitosan and carnauba wax for postharvest use on ‘Rocha’ pears

Coatings applied to fruit after harvesting stand as alternatives to prolong shelf life.
Chitosan postharvest treatments are becoming more customary because of its already recognized fungicidal effects.
Carnauba wax is a well-known fruit coating that prevents dehydration and imparts glossiness.
Chitosan and carnauba wax films were applied to fresh ‘Rocha’ pears to evaluate the effects on fruit quality.
The following blends were applied manually: T1) control (without any coating); T2) 2% (v/v) chitosan; T3) 2% chitosan + 2% (v/v) glycerol; T4) lipid phase (15%) carnauba emulsion.
Then the pears were stored at 0±1°C and 90% RH for 30, 60, 90 or 120 days.
After cold storage plus 5 additional days at room temperature the pears were evaluated for weight losses, flesh firmness, epidermal color and internal quality.
Epidermal color as indicated by L*a*b* values was not altered by fruit coatings.
Weight losses increased and fruit firmness diminished along the evaluation period and coating with the carnauba emulsion and chitosan 2% presented the lowest values.
Therefore, chitosan and carnauba coatings should be further studied as potential postharvest treatment to maintain ‘Rocha’ pear quality under conventional cold storage conditions.

VIII International Postharvest Symposium: Enhancing Supply Chain and Consumer Benefits – Ethical and Technological Issues

F.V. Nascimento, G.K. Almeida, S.J.N. Silva, R.J. Bender

Pyrus communis L., cold storage, edible films, fruit quality

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1194.41