Articles
Application of cactus pear mucilage coating for extending the shelf life and maintaining quality of strawberry fruit
Article number
1466_45
Pages
369 – 378
Language
English
Abstract
Strawberries are highly nutritious fruits valued for their sensory attributes and antioxidant properties, making them an important horticultural crop.
However, strawberries are highly perishable, characterised by rapid softening, moisture loss, and susceptibility to microbial decay, which significantly limits their shelf life and marketability.
This study evaluated the potential of cactus pear mucilage (CPM)-based coatings to preserve strawberry quality during refrigerated storage.
Coatings containing 1, 2, and 3% CPM were prepared and applied to strawberry fruits, while fruits treated with distilled water served as the control.
The treated fruits were stored at 5±0.5°C for 9 days and evaluated for weight loss, total soluble solids (TSS), peel colour attributes (a* and L*), DPPH radical scavenging activity, and disease incidence.
The effectiveness of the coatings varied according to concentration.
Among the treatments, 1% CPM was the most effective in maintaining fruit quality by reducing weight loss, delaying ripening-related colour changes, and preserving antioxidant activity compared to higher CPM concentrations and uncoated fruits.
In contrast, the 3% CPM coating resulted in greater disease incidence, likely due to excessive moisture retention on the fruit surface, which may have created favourable conditions for microbial development.
These findings suggest that lower CPM concentrations provide a more balanced and effective protective barrier during storage.
Overall, the results demonstrate the potential of CPM as a biodegradable and natural alternative to synthetic postharvest coatings for extending shelf life and maintaining strawberry fruit quality during cold storage.
However, further optimisation of coating formulations is required to improve antimicrobial performance while preserving coating functionality.
However, strawberries are highly perishable, characterised by rapid softening, moisture loss, and susceptibility to microbial decay, which significantly limits their shelf life and marketability.
This study evaluated the potential of cactus pear mucilage (CPM)-based coatings to preserve strawberry quality during refrigerated storage.
Coatings containing 1, 2, and 3% CPM were prepared and applied to strawberry fruits, while fruits treated with distilled water served as the control.
The treated fruits were stored at 5±0.5°C for 9 days and evaluated for weight loss, total soluble solids (TSS), peel colour attributes (a* and L*), DPPH radical scavenging activity, and disease incidence.
The effectiveness of the coatings varied according to concentration.
Among the treatments, 1% CPM was the most effective in maintaining fruit quality by reducing weight loss, delaying ripening-related colour changes, and preserving antioxidant activity compared to higher CPM concentrations and uncoated fruits.
In contrast, the 3% CPM coating resulted in greater disease incidence, likely due to excessive moisture retention on the fruit surface, which may have created favourable conditions for microbial development.
These findings suggest that lower CPM concentrations provide a more balanced and effective protective barrier during storage.
Overall, the results demonstrate the potential of CPM as a biodegradable and natural alternative to synthetic postharvest coatings for extending shelf life and maintaining strawberry fruit quality during cold storage.
However, further optimisation of coating formulations is required to improve antimicrobial performance while preserving coating functionality.
Publication
Authors
N. Ndaba, S. Mwelase, M.H. Shinga, B.L. Ngcobo, O.A. Fawole
Keywords
biocomposites, cold storage, fresh produce, postharvest, prickly pear, shelf life
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