Articles
Chitosan-24-epibrassinolide composite coating maintained arils quality attributes of pomegranate fruit subjected to chilling temperature by enhancing the antioxidant defence systems
Article number
1396_53
Pages
401 – 408
Language
English
Abstract
This study investigated the effectiveness of chitosan-24-epibrassinolide (CH-EBR) composite coating in maintaining postharvest quality of pomegranate arils during whole fruit extended storage at chilling-inducing temperature.
Early harvest pomegranate fruit were treated with CH + 10 µM EBR by immersion method, and distilled water was used as a control treatment.
The fruit were air-dried and subjected to long storage for 4 months at 4.5±0.5°C; 85±5 relative humidity (RH). Quality was then evaluated at 4-week intervals with additional 3-day storage at room temperature to simulate retail conditions.
Arils physicochemical and phytochemical properties, antioxidant capacity, and enzyme activities were monitored during storage.
The results showed that the CH + 10 µM EBR coating significantly (p<0.05) maintained higher aril texture, and total soluble solids (TSS), with slight differences observed in titratable acidity (TA). In addition, CH + 10 µM EBR coating resulted in higher aril antioxidant capacity as indicated by FRAP, ABTS+ and DPPH radical scavenging activities, which is attributable to the enhanced activity of the antioxidant enzymes CAT and POD. Moreover, an enhanced accumulation of flavonoids was observed in the arils of the treated fruit compared with the control fruit, contributing to the higher antioxidant capacity.
These results suggest that chitosan-24-epibrassinolide composite coating is a promising natural preservation technique to maintain the quality of arils during the long-term storage of pomegranate fruit.
However, more studies are still required to understand the mode of action involved and optimize the coating formulation.
Early harvest pomegranate fruit were treated with CH + 10 µM EBR by immersion method, and distilled water was used as a control treatment.
The fruit were air-dried and subjected to long storage for 4 months at 4.5±0.5°C; 85±5 relative humidity (RH). Quality was then evaluated at 4-week intervals with additional 3-day storage at room temperature to simulate retail conditions.
Arils physicochemical and phytochemical properties, antioxidant capacity, and enzyme activities were monitored during storage.
The results showed that the CH + 10 µM EBR coating significantly (p<0.05) maintained higher aril texture, and total soluble solids (TSS), with slight differences observed in titratable acidity (TA). In addition, CH + 10 µM EBR coating resulted in higher aril antioxidant capacity as indicated by FRAP, ABTS+ and DPPH radical scavenging activities, which is attributable to the enhanced activity of the antioxidant enzymes CAT and POD. Moreover, an enhanced accumulation of flavonoids was observed in the arils of the treated fruit compared with the control fruit, contributing to the higher antioxidant capacity.
These results suggest that chitosan-24-epibrassinolide composite coating is a promising natural preservation technique to maintain the quality of arils during the long-term storage of pomegranate fruit.
However, more studies are still required to understand the mode of action involved and optimize the coating formulation.
Authors
S. Mwelase, O.A. Fawole
Keywords
postharvest, phytohormone, edible coating, bioactive compounds, antioxidant enzymes, chilling injury
Online Articles (82)