Chitin nanofiber coating retains postharvest quality and extends shelf life of mango

Purpose: Mango is a well-known fruit in tropical and sub-tropical countries, including Bangladesh. However, mangoes are climacteric fruits and exhibit limited storage life due to a high respiration rate. Mangoes are also susceptible to particular storage pathogens at postharvest and thus possess a short shelf life. Research Method: Mature mangoes were treated with different concentrations of chitin nanofiber (CNF) and stored in ambient conditions to evaluate the effect of CNF (۰.۱%, ۰.۳%, ۰.۵%) on postharvest quality and shelf life. Disease-free and physiologically mature mangoes were collected from an orchard. The experiment was devised following a Completely Randomized Design with three replications, and each replication consisted of ۱۰ fruits. Fruits were evaluated for physical quality (weight loss, fruit firmness, and color changes), chemical attributes [ changes in total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), vitamin C content], microbial (disease incidence and disease severity), and shelf life. Findings: The application of ۰.۳% CNF maintains fruit color (۶.۳۳ vs. ۴), decreases disease incidence (۶۲.۵% vs. ۱۰۰%) and prolongs the shelf life (۸.۵ days vs. ۶.۰۲ days) of mangoes than the control. Similarly, ۰.۱% of CNF retains vitamin C (۲۴.۳۳ mg/۱۰۰g vs. ۱۲.۳۳ mg/۱۰۰g), decreases disease severity (۶۲% vs. ۸۵.۶۸%), and ۰.۵% of CNF reduces weight loss (۱۹.۳۴% vs. ۳۱.۴%) than the control. Research Limitations: CNF preparation requires lab facilities and technical expertise, and it is costly. Originality/Value: CNF ۰.۳% has the potential to maintain postharvest quality and extend the shelf life of mangoes. However, more research is needed to make the final recommendation at the farmers’ level.

Keywords:

Chemical attributes , edible coating , Fruit firmness , Nanofiber , Vitamin C